The Ransberger Pivot: good arguments

» shiloh - good arguments

Hello. I've enjoyed your articles from time to time. In this one, your examples in particular interest me, as much as the article itself. I frequently have arguments about the public education system.

I find it amusing that the people who favor the public education system for "egalitarian" reasons are in fact the most elitist. If I argue that Benjamin Franklin taught himself Latin and French and became a leading scientist, author, and politician of his day with hardly any time spent in the classroom, people will say, "Well, not everyone is like Benjamin Franklin." The argument clearly is that most people are stupid.

If this is indeed the case, why do we spend billions of dollars trying to educate them in public schools which are complete disasters? If this is not the case, why do we spend billions of dollars trying to educate them in public schools which are complete disasters? Either way, the conclusion is obvious: public schools are complete disasters and an enormous waste of time and money.

But alas, we are not actually paying the money in the vain hope that a few children will overcome the hurdles of the education system itself and actually learn something, in spite of going to school. What we are actually paying for is mediocrity. Mediocrity does not threaten the true elitists. Thus they have every reason to spend other people's money, our money, in order to keep the majority of people in a state of abject mediocrity. It's insurance for the elite.

In any case, thank you for the pleasure of reading your articles.

-- posted by shiloh