[Tax-chick]

We weren't a third-world kleptocracy before we had public schools; why should we become one if they are privatized?

that localities be required to ensure that all children of that locality receive a minimum education, and that they have the power to tax to achieve that goal

Although I disagree with this philosophically, it's feasible constitutionally. However, the problem then is the definition of "minimum education." This will be determined politically - does it include Darwinism? Intelligent Design? Chinese? Cooking? Or does it exclude all of those but include reading, writing, and math?

Another issue is quality control. At this point, courts have ruled that the schools are not, in fact, responsible for educating children. If a child fails to learn, the system cannot be held accountable. (In the same way, the police cannot be held responsible for failing to protect citizens from crime.)

These are problems that are going to come up with any government system, no matter what product or service it provides.

[bvw]

When did we not have public schools? We are protected, as a nation, by our high literacy rate. For all get out -- have you read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow? The main character is a school teacher. Washington Irving, the author, wrote in our early days of nationhood.

We've had public schools, in some form or another, since before we were a nation. We have always had a expectation of literacy among all citizens.