[Arlo previously] 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?
[Platt] Thinking beyond that -- all people can now afford good schools. [Arlo] When this happens, let me know and I'll join your charge for privatizing the schools. [Platt] Class distinctions will make no difference in the quality of schools. [Arlo] Only in the quality of cars, housing, televisions, clothing, appliances, etc... only in everything else left to the "free market". But not "education"? Oh no, with education the poor will have access to the same quality education as the rich! Right. [Arlo had asked] Are you denying that in this system the schools will stratify according to class? How not? [Platt] How so? [Arlo] The same way it does with everything else. The poor get Motel 6's. The rich get Hilton Executive Suites. The poor drive old jallopies, the use drive Lexus. [Arlo previously] 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? [Platt] Schools will offer variety like the free market. [Arlo] So schools would not be forced to accept vouchers? And you favor schools being able to decide to deny entry to low-income families or minorities? [Arlo previously] 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? [Platt] I don't know. You tell me. Why do Jewish and Asian students do better in school than others? [Arlo] These cultures typically demonstrate much stronger familial support in the educational process. That's likely one reason. In any event, it has nothing to do with "private" versus "public".... waaaaiiiitttt.... I get it. The problem is particular cultural elements in America. Since law forbids the public schools from excluding people based on their color, we make all the schools private and then allow them to discriminate! Its not so much the "private" you want, is it, as the "get rid of the black element"! I mean, you can't seriously make the argument that its all about privatization, since Finnish and Japanese public schools are astonishingly successful! But you don't want to fix the public schools, since the only "fix" you can envision is racial separation! [Platt] Fail at times? Surely you jest. Failure describes the condition of government schools today. [Arlo] That's just nonsense. I spend a lot of times in public schools, across three states, and I dont' see this abject "failure". I see areas for improvement, and I've given my spiel about where I see the problems originating. [Platt] To harp on equality of individual abilities and student outcomes is sadder. [Arlo] I've done neither, but nice talk-radio tactic. I've harped on the quality of the schools all children have access to. That their individual differences and outcomes will vary is not anything that I am saying. [Platt] 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). [Arlo] My daughter and all her friends are surprisingly literate. Why is it the schools job to teach "self-discipline and self-reliance"? Sounds like that's something you should take the lead on if its. As for schools teaching "aesthetic taste"... schools can (and do, albeit arts funding is lacking) offer exposure to multiple forms of art, but as for the child's "taste"... and what is good, Platt, and what is not good, need we ask anyone to tell us these things? Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
