The Case Against Government Funding for Private Schools
Should private schools be funded by the government? In many debates, the answer often revolves around the concept of free choice and the separation of religion and state. This article explores the arguments against such funding, focusing on the Australian experience and highlighting the potential issues with public school funding.
Public Schools as an Expensive Shambles
Public schools are often criticized for being inadequate, especially when compared to private schools. According to the article, the Australian experience demonstrates that the elite are predominantly private school-educated. Even those who attend public schools might send their children to private schools later on.
“The elite in Australia is almost entirely private-school educated and even when they themselves are not, they send their kids to private school.”
The Conflict of Private Education
Private schools often maintain certain policies or cultural customs, in contrast to public schools, which aim to avoid cultural indoctrination. This distinction raises questions about the role of separation of religion and state. Parents who object to certain cultural or religious practices—such as those found in Sharia or Evangelical schools—may refuse to fund these institutions.
“Thus people that reject certain cultural aspects, even if they are eminently respectable like Sharia or Evangelism, refuse to pay for what they perceive as cultural or religious indoctrination.”
The Constitutional Argument
The article also delves into the constitutional argument against government funding of private schools. Specifically, the argument is based on the Tenth Amendment, stating that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively or to the people.
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively or to the people.”
Public Schools and Government Responsibilities
In the United States, public schools are funded and governed by states and localities, which set standards and requirements. In contrast, private schools are not required to meet any state standards or have qualified teachers and are only inspected for health and safety. This raises the question of whether government funds should be allocated to schools that neither meet standards nor follow mandates.
“Why should government funds go to schools which meet no standards and answer to no one? If parents want educational alternatives—such as homeschooling—I homeschooled my three now-adult children— they should pay for it themselves.”
Conclusion
The debate over government funding for private schools is complex and involves issues of education, freedom, and societal values. It is crucial to consider the unique positions of public and private schools and the constitutional framework within which these institutions operate. Ultimately, the choice to fund one type of school over another should be based on the criteria that best serve the public interest and the individual needs of families.