--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I was a state, I would like to see…" description: "\"If I was a state, I would like to see education left to the schools themselves, but I don't want the federal government involved in education. I think ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/gary-johnson-3710_any_if-i-was-a-state-i-would-like-to-see-edu_2853723.png" --- # If I was a state, I would like to see education left to… ![“If I was a state, I would like to see education left to the schools themselves, but I don't want the federal government involved in education. I think that it ends up setting standards that cost you time and money and don't make any difference in education. I want to stop that.” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/gary-johnson-3710_any_if-i-was-a-state-i-would-like-to-see-edu_2853723.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/gary-johnson-3710_any_if-i-was-a-state-i-would-like-to-see-edu_2853723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/gary-johnson-3710_any_if-i-was-a-state-i-would-like-to-see-edu_2853723.png) > “If I was a state, I would like to see education left to the schools themselves, but I don't want the federal government involved in education. I think that it ends up setting standards that cost you time and money and don't make any difference in education. I want to stop that.” [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for local control of education, arguing federal standards waste resources and add little value. **In simple terms:** Prefers school autonomy over federal oversight. Key Takeaway Support local decision‑making. Themes education federalism policy autonomy Mood concerned critical Type political policy When to use this quote - school board meetings - parent‑teacher conferences - state legislature debates - educational budgeting - curriculum design Key Concepts decentralization standards efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can local schools maintain quality without federal standards? - What safeguards protect students in a fully decentralized system? A Different Perspective Federal involvement may ensure equity and basic quality across regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-left-1415145/) [Education Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-think-268072/) [Education Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-want-706629/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Federal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-schools-1074039/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-education-372485/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) [Themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/themselves/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-money/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [There's a perception that's been put out into the marketplace by No Child Left Behind that schools aren't doing enough for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/there-s-a-perception-that-s-been-put-out-into-the-marketplace-by-no/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [Education is what is left after all that has been learnt is forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/education-is-what-is-left-after-all-that-has-been-learnt-is-forgotten/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [A business does not start up because it needs to provide jobs for a community. That's not why it happens. It's another example of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/a-business-does-not-start-up-because-it-needs-to-provide-jobs-for-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Education is what is left after you've forgotten everything you've learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/education-is-what-is-left-after-you-ve-forgotten-everything-you-ve/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There are some things that I like, like education, wine, and I'd like to be a good cook, although I'm a pretty good eater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/there-are-some-things-that-i-like-like-education-wine-and-i-d-like-to/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [Like education, healthcare also needs to be given importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/like-education-healthcare-also-needs-to-be-given-importance/) [Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/) > [I never had a single thing handed to me. I had to fight for everything I wanted, like my education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/i-never-had-a-single-thing-handed-to-me-i-had-to-fight-for-everything/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [I'd like to see education play a larger role in our daily lives, have people come to a larger understanding - a "bigger picture"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-d-like-to-see-education-play-a-larger-role-in-our-daily-lives-have/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“He believed true love was more like an education: it was deep and subtle and never complete. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-bancroft/he-believed-true-love-was-more-like-an-education-it-was-deep-and/) [Josiah Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-bancroft/) > [We got stuffed 4-1, but it was just great to play against, it was like an education. You think you are half good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/we-got-stuffed-4-1-but-it-was-just-great-to-play-against-it-was-like/) [Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/) > [It's great to talk about how good things are now. But we can't sit on our laurels and expect that our time will sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/it-s-great-to-talk-about-how-good-things-are-now-but-we-can-t-sit-on/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [My message to a lot of guys is, if you like school and you like education, baseball is gonna be there, and you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/my-message-to-a-lot-of-guys-is-if-you-like-school-and-you-like/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [Reformation, like education, is a journey, not a destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reformation-like-education-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like people. Rightwingers don't. They like business, they don't care about people. I like education, they seem not to care much about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-like-people-rightwingers-don-t-they-like-business-they-don-t-care/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The U.N. has been focusing on the global goals in terms of trying to fight and eradicate poverty, and I feel like education is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/the-u-n-has-been-focusing-on-the-global-goals-in-terms-of-trying-to/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) ## More by Gary Johnson > [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. 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