But, it is not a necessity for me to participate, imho.
Over my protests, it is a necessity for me to pay for the defense of the nation, but it is not a necessity for me to pay for kids to be educated in ways I don't believe in.
There's a difference between needs and wants.
Your comments are quite reasonable and an excellent indication of why public education is failing. It is also why decisions such as Dover will not strengthen science education-- it will weaken it-- if adherence to evolution science is indeed strength. 80 percent of the American public does not approve of how evolution is taught in schools today. That creates an unmanageable political problem which a minority is trying force by way of the establishment clause.
These processes are hurting the overall education effor.
So, let's shut down the public school system, and only those whose parents can afford to pay for a public education can go to school, then, we'll just have to pay for the costs related to the unsuing crime wave created by millions of kids with nothing to do all day, and no future, because they have parents who can't afford private education.
BTW...you don't believe that making sure that a basic education is available for all citizens is paying for the defense of the nation?