Tom Philp: Even in liberal California, there is little to stop extremists from hijacking schools

When property tax reform via Proposition 13 led to fiscal challenges for California’s public school system in 1978, the Legislature strengthened the role of the local watchdog, the county superintendent of schools.

If a local school district is on a path to insolvency nowadays, the county superintendent can step in and, if necessary, force some tough spending decisions.

There is no similar cure for school districts guilty of academic bankruptcy, such as banning books or making curriculum decisions based on extreme views rather than educational needs.