Public Education is a Socialist Monopoly

[Francesca R]

Here are some more Friedman quotes, taken from Capitalism and Freedom (1962), chapter VI: The Role of Government In Education":

• "A stable and democratic society is impossible without a minimum degree of literacy and knowledge on the part of most citizens and without widespread acceptance of some common set of values"
• " . . . the gain from the education of a child accrues not only to the child or to his parents but also to other members of the society"
• "Most of us, however, would probably conclude that the gains [from schooling] are sufficiently important to justify some government subsidy"
• " . . . the imposition of a mnimum required level of schooling and the financing of this schooling by the state can be justified by the "neighborhood effects" [externalities] of schooling"

Of course, he is mostly opposed to nationalised schools, or publicly funded vocational or higher education, and would no doubt be less generous with "vouchers" than most rich country governments, but the OP doesn't look quite so correct now, does it?

 

[excaza]

"Everyone should have an education, but the government shouldn't pay for it."

I'd rather spend a few extra bucks on my taxes every year than have 16 years of student loans as opposed to 4, thank you very much.

 

[Belz...]

Spoken like a true liberal.

13 posts in, and he's already categorizing the other posters.

 

[lionking]

13 posts in, and he's already categorizing the other posters.

I'm anxiously waiting for his solution to the socialist scourge of education.

 

[drkitten]

I'm anxiously waiting for his solution to the socialist scourge of education.

You won't get one. There's no quotation he can take out of context to provide one.

 

[excaza]

The alternative is slashing government education spending, forcing public schools to turn semi-private (charging tuition, but some government subsidy).

At least that's what I'm assuming he wants.

I don't see any difference.

 

[Weak Kitten]

The alternative is slashing government education spending, forcing public schools to turn semi-private (charging tuition, but some government subsidy).

At least that's what I'm assuming he wants.

I don't see any difference.

Actually, the difference would be increased administrative costs for the individual schools. They would have to hire new staff to deal with financial transactions they don't have to worry about in the current system.

Plus you would get into a problem of juvenile delinquency. All of those kids who's parents don't care enough or can't afford to send them to school roaming the streets looking for something to do. You can't force them to go to school, they aren't paying for that. So, out of boredom and a lack of anything better to do with their time, they turn to petty crime and vandalism. They get sent to juvenile detention centers and we as tax payers end up spending more on them then we would have spent just sending them to school.

Always try to think your ideas through to their logical outcomes. The system now is not perfect but the alternatives can be far worse and more expensive. Let's just work on reforming the system we have now rather then tossing everything out on a whim.

 

[excaza]

Poor wording on my part.

"I don't see how it's any better" is what I meant. And probably should have written

 

[Craig4]

So, I'll ask again. What is the alternative to current publicly funded education?

 

[excaza]

Plus you would get into a problem of juvenile delinquency. All of those kids who's parents don't care enough or can't afford to send them to school roaming the streets looking for something to do. You can't force them to go to school, they aren't paying for that. So, out of boredom and a lack of anything better to do with their time, they turn to petty crime and vandalism. They get sent to juvenile detention centers and we as tax payers end up spending more on them then we would have spent just sending them to school.

Not my kid, not my problem, you socialist!

 

[drkitten]

Not my kid, not my problem, you socialist!

So if your kid breaks my window, whose problem is it?

 

[excaza]

So if your kid breaks my window, whose problem is it?

Typical lefty, you should have bought better windows.

 

[GreyArea]

Typical lefty, you should have bought better windows.

There's a lot of potential there: unbreakable windows, paint-proof siding, surveillance cameras. The video arcades would make a windfall. Think of the boost in the GDP!

 

[Cleon]

Name the district so we may have a chance to verify this $95,000 salary.

It's not unheard of for a teacher's salary to max out at around that level, especially in wealthier areas.

However...To get that kind of pay, you generally have to have a PhD with several decades' teaching experience. Those that get those sorts of salaries are few and far between.

 

[Startz]

The average salary for public school teachers, base pay plus merit pay and other state supplements is $51,660. (Source: Digest of Education, 2009, Table 75).

 

[StuBob]

Maybe you should trade in your hobby-horse for a bicycle. Then ride it to the hardware store and take a long look at the paint supplies. There are more shades available than just black and white, and not all the brushes are broad.

This is a quote of beauty, GreyArea!

 

[GreyArea]

At my district, teachers top out at over $95,000 for 9 months work.
Sickening, particularly when teachers graduate in the bottom third of their college classes, on average.

Something tells me these would not be the same people, even assuming the figures are correct.

 

[GreyArea]

This is a quote of beauty, GreyArea!

Thank you very much.

 

[uruk]

Name the district so we may have a chance to verify this $95,000 salary.

Yea, I want to work there. I've been teaching at a local community college for eleven years and my salary is only $60,000. And I graduated Suma cum laude

 

[Alt+F4]

In New York City public schools a teacher's salary can max out at $100,000 after 22 years of service (and a Master's Degree plus 30 additional credit).

Rest in peace Albert Shanker.