[MD] Value and the Individual

[Platt Holden]

> [Platt]
> Naturally there will be a transition phase before all schools become
> private.
> 
> [Arlo]
> So, let's think beyond that for a moment. All schools are now private. We
> have abolished school taxes. What happens to people who can't afford good
> schools? What happens to people who can't afford school at all?

Thinking beyond that -- all people can now afford good schools.

> [Platt]
> Of course not, no more so than they are today. Quality will vary as always.
> 
> [Arlo]
> And which schools will have better Quality? The ones attended by the wealthy
> or the ones attended by the poor? 

Class distinctions will make no difference in the quality of schools. 

> Are you denying that in this system the schools will stratify according to
> class? How not? 

How so?

> [Arlo previously]
> What will happen is obvious, schools will congregate along class-lines. Poor
> families that can't afford good schools will get crappy second rate ones
> (its all they will be able to afford). Rich kids will get the best
> education.

Some will, some won't.  
 
> [Platt]
> Giving parents a voucher and a choice, schools will compete for students,
> raising quality. 
> 
> [Arlo]
> So you favor forcing private schools to accept vouchers? Would this be on a
> lottery system? Would schools be able to choose who they accept? Would
> schools be able to deny low-income families? Non-whites?

Schools will offer variety like the free market.
 
> [Platt]
> I never claimed all schools would be, or should be, equal. But they would be
> better overall than they are today due to competition. 
> 
> [Arlo]
> Japan's and Finland's public schools arguably provide among the best
> education available in the world. And they are public schools. Why is this?

I don't know. You tell me. Why do Jewish and Asian students do better
in school than others?

> At least in the present system we are striving to provide all our children
> with comparable quality educations. We may fail at times, and we should do
> better, but it is a worthwhile goal.

Fail at times? Surely you jest. Failure describes the condition of 
government schools today.

> Stratifying education among class lines, so that rich kids get a better
> education than poor kids, and accepting this as natural, is just sad.

To harp on equality of individual abilities and student outcomes is sadder.
 
> [Platt]
> Public schools today aren't equal in quality education. In fact, most public
> schools do a lousy job. So what's your point? 
> 
> [Arlo]
> Most public schools do a great job. There is room for improvement. And where
> there in inequality our goal should be to bring underachieving schools to
> the same standard as successful schools. 

Most government schools fail to educate even the basics of reading, writing 
and arithmetic, not to mention self-discipline, self-reliance and aesthetic 
taste (quality).