A weekly report from a Virginia delegate helps give some idea of why public officials have such a difficult time reforming education or reining in spending on public schools. “My bill to provide housing assistance to our teachers, police, firefighters, and other public employees (enabling them to live in the same communities they are working in) passed both houses,” Jeff Frederick exults.

Frederick, it should be noted, is one of the more conservative Republican members of the Virginia House of Delegates. Consequently, he lists among his “other disappointments”:

• “Legislation to require that at least 65 cents of each education dollar ends up in the classroom;

• “My bill requiring that schools let their students take home their textbooks and/or other materials so they can study at home (can you believe people are against this!?!)”

Actually, I can.

Malcolm A. Kline is the executive director of Accuracy in Academia.