Single Payer... Education?

Independent Women's Forum ^ | September 4, 2009 | Nicole Kurokawa

[Lorianne]

Over at today's Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington calls for school choice! She comes at it from a far different starting place than I would, but her conclusion is not half bad.

In a single-payer health care plan, the federal government provides coverage for all U.S. citizens and legal residents. Patients don't go to a government doctor -- they just have the government pay the bill.

And that's how it would work with education. In a single-payer education plan, the federal government, in conjunction with the states, would provide an education allotment for every parent of a K-12 child. Parents would then be free to enroll their child in the school of their choice.

In education, the government would be responsible for accrediting the schools among which parents could choose.

It's simple, sensible and, above all, just. And maybe instead of calling for an exorcist any time the words "competition," "choice" or "freedom" are used in connection to education, we can start singing hosannas for an idea that preserves what is truly public in public education -- the government, i.e. the public, paying for it -- while allowing creativity, innovation and parental empowerment to flourish.

And when it comes to saving out [sic] children, there is not a moment to waste.

There are a few small things I would note - public schools' curriculums are often contentious, and there is a spirited debate whether national standards are the best way to measure a child's learning. These issues are likely to persist as long as the government "accredits" schools from which parents may choose.

However, as schools around the country gear up for the 2009-2010 year, many students will be returning to unsafe and underperforming institutions. As a nation, we cannot in good conscience allow this to continue. Preventing disadvantaged students from obtaining a quality education threatens to create a permanent American underclass. And as my colleague Tatiana has said: "Every Child Deserves A Choice."

[Windcatcher]

"In education, the government would be responsible for accrediting the schools among which parents could choose."

And therein lies the Trojan Horse.

You can rest assured that such a scheme would be used to get rid of schools that don't meet Marxist indoctrination criteria (which, of course, will be called something that people can't oppose, like "diversity education"). Catholic schools will be at the top of the Marxists' hit list.

Marxists will never stop at this until they're either gone (with finality) or they're faced with the sort of personal, visceral fear that they won't dare try it.

[Libloather]

Single Payer... Education?

I have no kids with pre-existing conditions. You mean I STILL have to pay for gubmint indoctrination?

[wintertime]

In education, the government would be responsible for accrediting the schools among which parents could choose.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

VERY BAD IDEA!

( Yes, I am shouting!)

[Lorianne]

Yes, well, baby steps. At least the avowed liberal is advocating for school choice.

The bad news is she wants the government to select the choices.

You can’t win them all I guess.

[Lorianne]

Yes, well, baby steps. At least the avowed liberal is advocating for school choice.

The bad news is she wants the government to select the choices.

You can’t win them all I guess.

[Windcatcher]

She isn’t. A choice where all the choices are all the same isn’t a choice at all.

1. Marxist indoctrination with drug, race, and gang-driven violence.
2. Marxist indoctrination without drug, race, and gang-driven violence.

It’s a smoke screen.

[ntmxx]

This might be the first thing Arianna has ever written that makes sense, at least as a valid argument...this could bring a new perspective to who education is really intended for...however, I really doubt that NEA and other “Friends of Government” would allow this to happen. Doing so would cutout all the drivel and undermining of the American people, if they had choice to not participate in the wholesale slaughter of clarity and common sense.

[_Jim]

Over at today's Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington calls for school choice! She comes at it from a far different starting place than I would, but her conclusion is not half bad.

When I first read that, it came across to me that she wrote: but her confusion is not half bad.

With Arianna, it is confusion ...

[paudio]

If it means the government —through accreditation— also decide the curriculum, who can/cannot teach etc., in all schools, I’ll say it’s bad idea. Really really bad idea.

[Talisker]

There’s no problem with public schools that removing administrator immunity wouldn’t solve.