[net.politics] An Alternate Method of Funding Education

welsch@houxu.UUCP (Larry Welsch) (11/24/83)

There has been a recent debate on the net about tuition tax credits.
The purpose of this note is to propose a different way of funding
education than has been done in the past.  I believe that any mechanism
for funding education should have the following goals:

	1. Everybody has a right to a free education.

	2. The person being educated has the right to choose the
	   educational institution.
	
	3. The public should not pay for or support the teaching of
	   dogmas and/or propaganda.

	4. No one should be forced to go to school.

The way I would implement the first goal is to provide every citizen with
an education check book. Any person could write a check from the check
book to pay for educational services after the education has been
received, ie. the institution has given a grade/diploma based on work
completed. Also any institution that can cash such checks must make
provision for 10% of its student body to be composed of auditors who do
not receive grades and do not pay any fees. 

The second goal is achieved by specifying that any institution
(institution will be used to refer to institutions that can cash the
education checks) may not reject any students that choose to attend.
However, institutions may limit the number of students who can attend a
particular class based on grades or availability. In the case of
availability, students who have been waiting the longest are first chosen
and if there are still too many then then a lottery must be held to
determine who can attend. Where the case is one of grades/requirements
then a mechanism must be provided by the institution whereby students can
improve their grades and gain admission.  Specifically any course may be
taken any number times and only the student's most recent grade in the
course may be used to determine admission into other courses.

The third goal is the most difficult to achieve.  First, no pledges of
allegiance or prayers to deities or prayers in general should be said in
schools.  Second, teachers should never give the impression that they are
the sole owners of truth, even in mathematics.  Third, teachers should
encourage students to discuss their own beliefs.  Fourth, religion,
political science, history, etc. should be carefully taught with a minimum
of memorization and a maximum of questioning.  Fifth, teacher should spend
less time teaching students to memorize and more time on teaching problem
solving and reasoning.

The fourth goal is that no one, even children should not be forced to go
to school.  We have a belief in this country that an "education" is good
for everyone.  I don't think this is true.  Children mature at different
rates and in some cases a 12 year old may be better off out working than
getting an education.  The important think is to provide a mechanism where
when a person thinks she/he is ready then the education is affordable.
This is perhaps the most controversial goal.

						Larry Welsch
						houxu!welsch