Choice Is Messy. So Be It.
Robert Pondiscio of Democracy Prep writes again to Deborah Meier today.
Dear Deborah,
False dichotomy alert!
Your last post, "Why Voting Beats 'Voting With One's Feet,'" implies an either/or proposition. If you were able to maintain perfect staff and parent peace at your school through voting alone, I bow to your wisdom and statesmanship. But the ability to vote with one's feet is an essential safety valve and indispensible parental prerogative. With few exceptions, I see no reason to force a child to remain in a school where he or she isn't learning, or where the parent has a serious conflict and there are alternatives available.
Our earliest exchanges explored the twin imperatives of "educating for democracy and liberty." Voting is democracy. Voting with one's feet is liberty. We needn't privilege one or the other, and a healthy school system can and should accommodate both.
This is not a controversial idea. Our laws function in large measure to protect individual liberties from the tyranny of majorities. Why do we think schools should be exempt from these bedrock