Education

The Left Says

Everyone deserves a robust education, and college should never be out of reach. Expand scholarships and grants. Reward great teachers. Eliminate vouchers, which just sap resources from struggling public schools.

The Right Says

Education needs to be in the hands of teachers and parents, not legislators. Expand School Choice. Drive down college tuition costs by getting the government out of the student loan business, and let’s start preparing graduates for the actual jobs they will be getting.

The Solution

Public school is generally paid for through property taxes, and vouchers aren’t fair. Much like the crotchety old guy down the street who says, “I don’t have any kids in school, why should I have to pay for your kids’ schooling with my property taxes?” — the notion of parents steering public money into private hands just doesn’t work. The next time we raise a bond issue for the library, do I get to decide which books the library purchases with my portion of the revenue? Even localized funding of school districts is unfair, perpetuating gross inequality of opportunity. State and federal funding (through property & income tax, respectively), should be allocated equally on a per-student basis.

The federal role in education is in setting standards, testing, and curriculum support when gaps are identified. Early childhood education (starting at age 3) should be optional and free, and done in the Montessori style. High school ends after 11th grade, followed by 2 years of Junior College, which is a series of practica that exposes students to a wide range of careers. Eliminate summer break (because we are no longer an agricultural society), and instead have four 3-week breaks throughout the year. Teachers currently have their own little isolated kingdoms, and need mentors and oversight for proper evaluation and constructive feedback.

Higher education is another public utility (like healthcare). Standardize rates (at the public schools), and the government pays 100% of that for 4 years, provided that you maintain a B-average (3.0). Anything less, means you pay a pro-rated portion of next year’s tuition. If you keep a 4.0, then you receive a stipend!

The student loan situation is ridiculous. Fix that right now by setting loan limits indexed to degree-based average earning potential, with interest capped at 2% – in deferment until 2 years post-graduation (both retroactive – to fix the current mess — yes, this equates to a bailout).