Quote:
Originally posted by Shuie
There are no perfect solutions to problems that are this complicated, but I say privatize it and run it like a business.
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I don't doubt that competition would be beneficial. Vouchers are worth considering. Teachers' Union agenda should not override public interest. But.......
I think the quote above is interesting. First, if you run a school like a business, then guess what it's agenda will be? It's purpose will be to make money. Some of you blindly conclude that its interest in profits will maximize the quality of its services and minimize its costs. For you guys who believe that, I have a bridge for sale in the New York City area.
Further, frankly, the amount of money flowing through the nation's education systems is COLOSSAL by any measure. OF COURSE private industry wants to get their hands on that. I remember when there was a serious suggestion that we privatize the nation's hot lunch programs. I suspect that Halliburton was the contractor we had in mind. I am exceedingly skeptical about the prediction that privatizing our nation's schools would reduce the overall cost of education. Very skeptical. Similar to my skepticism when the nation's phone systems were privatized. Whose phone bill is lower today?
There are many potential problems. For example, one of the biggest differences between a public organization and a private one is that a public organization is required to answer questions and open its books and provide copies of its documents. Public disclosure. If we privatize education, we'd fly blind from that moment forward.