MythBuster: Do We Have a “Government-Run Education Monopoly”?
“There’s no failed policy more in need of change than our government-run education monopoly, and you know that’s exactly what it is.”
With these words, candidate Donald Trump unleashed his K-12 education policy at a campaign stop in September, two months before winning the general election.
In the speech, the former reality TV star and current President-elect vowed to spend $20 billion in federal tax dollars to encourage more charter and voucher schools nationwide.
It remains his most concrete executive policy offering to date. Yet it’s based on this characterization of public schools as a “government-run education monopoly.”
One wonders – is it true? Do we really have such a thing here in the U.S. or is it just propaganda to boost an unpopular education scheme?
The devil, it seems, is in the details.
The answer is both yes and no: Yes, public schools are government-run. No, they’re not a monopoly.
First, let’s consider “government-run.” Everything the government does from paving the roads, to delivering mail, to protecting us from invaders is “government-run.” The military is government-run. Would you rather a foreign power tell our soldiers what to do? Congress is government run. Would you rather big business come in and decide all our laws?
In that same spirit, yes, our public schools are indeed government run. But who else should run them? Russia!? The Mafia!? A media cabal?
In emphasizing the role of government in education, Trump appears to be trying to MythBuster: Do We Have a “Government-Run Education Monopoly”? | gadflyonthewallblog:
