[davetufts]

It's nearly impossible to discuss education, but ignore politics.

It's political policy that mandates compulsory education, forces taxation to pay for said education, and outlines what is taught in public schools. Politics play a role in acceptable curriculum for home and private schools, what age children are forced into these institutions, and what drugs & vaccines they must take to participate in the public system.

Politics can certainly play a role in vocalizing opposition to these policies.

[lsb]

Feynman actually voiced his frustration over school textbooks, because education was so politicized:

http://www.textbookleague.org/103feyn.htm

And what do you do? Reject those, and choose books that your parent-friends are using? Pay tutors?

(Hey, davetufts, I'm a Jumbo too.)

[jacoblyles]

Public education is politicized because, being public, it is controlled by political institutions. Contrast this with a private service or commodity, like grocery stores. Nobody lobbies for which food items will be carried in grocery stores, rather the stores respond to the will of their customers.

[tokenadult]

And that is true even if some low-income customers shop with food stamps ("food vouchers").

[tokenadult]

And I might note for the record that pg, the kind founder of this forum, appears to have quite a strong interest in education issues.

http://paulgraham.com/nerds.html

http://paulgraham.com/hs.html

http://paulgraham.com/college.html

http://paulgraham.com/wisdom.html

http://paulgraham.com/credentials.html