Re: [Phys-L] Economist Hirschman's Argument Against Private Schools and Vouchers

[Bernard Cleyet <bernard@cleyet.org>]

On 2013, Jun 30, , at 10:52, marx@phy.ilstu.edu wrote:
> Milton Friedman was correct.  Richard, you apparently haven't dealt with any school
> district lately.  They do not listen to any comments, concerns, complaints, requests
> of parents.  

That's the point.  The parents who would make a diff. "walk" i.e. instead of recalling recalcitrant trustees, inter alia, send their kids privately or home school.

There are currently two recall petitions in Salinas.  One by supporters of a trustee and city councilor to remove the mayor who refuses to give him committee assignments, because, he claims, the trustee is also a city councilor.  The other by, I assume mayoral supporters, to recall that school trustee and city councilor from his school district trusteeship.

> They are totally controlled by the federal government now.  It has
> completely removed any ability of local voices to be heard on any issue.

That's absurd.

> There is no single issue that can be addressed to improve schools.  There is a wide
> array of issues, but the driving force to correct them will not come from on high. 

Since, I thought, there is general agreement the most important driving force for school failure is poverty, then, perforce, only the federal and state governments can effect a "cure".  that, of course, will never happen under "run away" capitalism.  That's the single issue that drives all the others.  

> I[t] must come from the stakeholders - parents that care enough about their children's
> education to make sure they get a good one.
>  Parents that do care would be able to
> take their children and put them into a private school without having to pay twice
> for that education - in taxes and tuition.


Right, many don't even have the money for adequate nutrition.

bc thinks the class struggle continues on phys-l.