Education, Disney, & Parental Choice

Education is important.  Education is vital.  Education is paramount.

This has been the universal opinion of tyrants, religionists, economists, and zealots of all persuasions.  In fact, the importance of education is one of the few things upon which virtually all philosophies can agree.  The intentional and systematic training of our children is obviously a good thing.  What could be more important than the formation of the minds of our young?  What is more powerful than the opportunity to shape the worldview of those who will one day lead our nation?  What is more lasting, more enduring, than determining the content and perspective of the education of those who will one day bury you?

You may be surprised to hear me say, then, that my favorite hashtag is #abolishgovernmentschools.  You see, too many people (most of whom attended government schools) believe that opposition to government involvement in an activity is equivalent to opposition to that activity itself.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Having been raised the son of an educator, there is little I value more than education, but I don't want my kids anywhere near a school run by any government currently in existence in my town, state, or country.

The recent controversy regarding Florida's parental rights bill, including Disney's involvement, illustrates the fundamental divide in our nation.  As much as I appreciate what DeSantis is attempting to do, I can't help but to think that he's slapping a band-aid on a wound that obviously requires amputation, and I think many people are awaking to this reality--this nation is fundamentally divided.  The issues we debate, sex education in this instance, are symptoms of much greater moral and philosophical disparities.  

This fact begs some follow-up questions.  Why would you want your children to be taught by (in many cases, essentially raised by) a system that is fundamentally at odds with your worldview?  Why would you want the minds of your children to be shaped by those with whom you differ regarding the meaning of life?  Why would you place your offspring under the influence of those whose agenda you fear?

I proffer these questions to parents of all backgrounds, conservative and liberal, Christian and atheist, Woke and old-fashioned.  Does it really make sense to let our ideological opponents teach our kids how to view life?  Does a unified education system seem like a viable option at this point in a country with such fundamental rifts?

Education is not neutral.  Nothing is.  Neutrality is the greatest myth ever told.  Folks like to talk about Disney's agenda or Christians' agenda or CNN's agenda or FOX's agenda, all while denying their own agendas, but let's be clear about one thing--we all have an agenda.  

Let me say that again for the folks in the back: WE ALL HAVE AN AGENDA!

Some people hide their agendas.  Some people don't.  Some people are not even aware that they have one, but they certainly do.  Any educator, entertainer, or evangelist worth his salt has an agenda, and he ought to be aware of and honest about it.

The answer, then, can never be to eliminate agendas from education.  That is neither possible nor desirable.  The answer is abolition.  

Abolish government schools.

This conflagration between DeSantis and Disney has revealed an insuperable ideological rift in our nation.  It is painfully obvious that no single education system can adequately represent those who are so diametrically opposed.  So, let's break up.  You teach your kids and I'll teach mine.  Let's all keep our money and use it to train our children the way that we see fit.  Our system is badly ineffective and inefficient as it is (free is a misnomer, of course), and those of us who spurn our local schools are being forced to pay twice.  Naturally, there are questions of providing education for the less-fortunate and single-parent households, but these are questions much better answered by the free market and private philanthropy than by Uncle Sam.

So, it's time.  Let's do it.  Privatize our education system.  Sell the buildings to the teachers' unions and see if they can keep them afloat in the real world, one where competition exists.  Let them compete against churches, private individuals, homeschool co-ops, and private enterprises and see if anybody still wants to utilize them.

#abolishgovernmentschools