Freedom of Choice
Mar. 2, 2006 at 8:59 AM
Homeschooling
Week by week, John Stossel keeps chipping away at state control of education. This week he addresses competition.
Bureaucrats like to say, you will go to this school, because we said so, and you will be taught according to this program, because we said so and we know best. Those of us with confidence in markets think you could do better deciding for yourself. Neither the bureaucrats nor the freedom lovers can judge what's in your interest better than you can. One big difference is, we know what we don't know, while they think they know everything.Would you keep going back to a restaurant that served you a bad meal? Or a barber that gave you a bad haircut?
Why is it that choice is a bad thing? Why is it that just because I buy a house on a certain street the government has the right to dictate my choice in education. Sure, they say you can go elsewhere but you must continue to pay for this one too! That's ridiculous. I don't have to pay McDonald's just because I chose to eat at Wendy's instead.
And please don't tell me that I lack compassion on the poor. I've been told that government needs to be involved because some parents will neglect their duties. That some would neglect their duties is not a reason for the government to compell ALL children to go to their schools. It's not I who lack compassion, it is they who lack faith in the American people.
Why do we tolerate this in the land of the free and the home of the brave?
And please don't tell me that I lack compassion on the poor. I've been told that government needs to be involved because some parents will neglect their duties. That some would neglect their duties is not a reason for the government to compell ALL children to go to their schools. It's not I who lack compassion, it is they who lack faith in the American people.
Why do we tolerate this in the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Why do we tolerate this in the land of the free and the home of the brave? 
Or maybe it's because we as a nation know more about Bart Simpson than our freedoms and our rights. So much for the argument that public education is necessary to pass on American values. Or wait, maybe we are. (Hat tip: My hubby.)
Update: La Shawn's blogging about the importance of knowing our rights and freedoms.
Related Tags: John Stossel, public schools, homeschool, homeschooling, parenting, school choice, vouchers, education
Or maybe it's because we as a nation know more about Bart Simpson than our freedoms and our rights. So much for the argument that public education is necessary to pass on American values. Or wait, maybe we are. (Hat tip: My hubby.)
Update: La Shawn's blogging about the importance of knowing our rights and freedoms.
Related Tags: John Stossel, public schools, homeschool, homeschooling, parenting, school choice, vouchers, education
2 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by gottsegnet on Mar. 2, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Thanks for your comment on my blog...I appreciated it. I had an interesting comment on my other one that basically reiterated what I had quoted using bigger words...I don't think she (or he) got it...but oh well.
What disturbs me about these debates over school choice is that those most vehemently opposed to it do not have their children in public schools. It reminds me of the whole separate but equal thing and the mythical desegregation of our schools.
We are thinking about moving and recently looked at a house in one of the worst school districts in KS. It is so nice to be free of those concerns...
posted by Anonymous on Mar. 5, 2006 at 12:22 PM
Hi,
I am a software developer working on a system to help homeschoolers help themselves. It will enable you to teach the children of others from your house, measure grades against public shcools, score and submit standardized test scores, etc. My email right now is darealdjc@yahoo.com I will give you a few screenshots if you're interested.