| A fair enough question. 1) Of course private education can be superior, but it also can be corrupted by political and religious agendas as it is commonly being done today. Mandatory public education in America tries to raise children free of such narrow-mindedness, a necessity for a free democracy. 2) Alexis de Tocqueville wrote a seminal book on the nature of America called Democracy in America. Its central theme was how common public education (as well as severe inheritance taxes) prevented the creation of a permanent privileged class which would otherwise eventually destroy freedom and democracy. Mandatory public education is or at least was a great unifier and leveler of American society. Today we are being torn apart and set against each other, and I believe we must have a common education to counter that. Not taking offense myself, but using an expensive education so children can outshine other children rather than reach their greatest potential is at its core anti-democratic and hugely offensive to those of us who understand and strive to sustain America's traditional values of freedom from oppressive forces. We aspire to a meritocracy (however imperfectly we achieve it). I can not think of anything more basic to the American way as the ideals of equality and meritocracy. A mandatory public education of high quality is essential to who we are and to our aspirations. Please understand I am NOT offended by your post. This is a free discussion among people of good will seeking understanding. |
Public education also can be, and often is in the US, corrupted by political and religious agendas.