Replies

One of the opposition's big arguments is that poor families won't be able to handle the burden of funding their child's education. Which, to a point, is true. But, millions of people go to college, and none of that is mandatory, and no one is entitled to it.

Think about this...if the parents had a monetary stake in their child's education...for example, if the child could attain scholarships with good grades, don't you think this would improve a kid's chances of being successful? Would it not also improve parental involvement?

And, frequently, people pay for college with loans. In my state, there's even something called a prepaid college plan...kind of an educational savings account.

Of course the idea that a parent, not the taxpayer, should bear the burden of their child's educational expenses is viewed as ludicrous. I would put it to them this way: is it fair that the taxpayer, who has no control over how many children are born, be saddled with the responsibly of paying for each and every one's education? How or why does your decision to have children entitle you to my money to educate them?

And imagine, without mandatory education, that parents who use schools as a babysitter are suddenly responsible for the supervision of their own children if they are expelled for offenses that go unnoticed in most public schools?

Imagine that schools are free to offer courses dictated by student ability levels instead of by Federal laws made by politicians hundreds of thousands of miles away who have never even seen your children!

I don't think that this can have anything but positive benefits, as students would have to work to their ability levels or finally face consequences that have real teeth to them.

Is that more along the lines of what you were looking for?

Any specific questions? I'm no Braniac, but I'll try my best to provide an answer....

I like your arguments - they're a lot like mine. I spend a lot of time talking to people about this. It's not unrealistic to see this happening withing ten-15 years.

The opposition I hear is
-poor folks won't be able to attend
-the unions have a host of propaganda b/c they would lose power
-what would we do with kids who choose not to attend

Of course you and I likely have the same answers to these objections, as demonstrated.

Do you take any action to promote your position? If so, what? I imagine there are teachers who oppose privatization who you must dodge?