Comments on: Why not treat kindergarteners like college students? http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/why-not-treat-kindergarteners-like-college-students/ Striving for accuracy in history, economics, geography, education, and a little science Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:15:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: UtahTeacher http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/why-not-treat-kindergarteners-like-college-students/#comment-47788 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:28:49 +0000 http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/why-not-treat-kindergarteners-like-college-students/#comment-47788 I think another important distinction between higher ed. and k-12 is that free market economics dictate that not everyone receives a college education. How important that degree is in today’s society, the possible undervaluing of trades and vocational ed., the broad variety and quality of public, private, and religious colleges, the role of college in opening minds, exposing students to new ideas, and encouraging critical thinking and public participation…or in some instances, conversely indoctrinating students against true examination of ideas that challenge them–these are all important issues to discuss in our vibrant system of higher education. But the point in relation to k-12 is that a huge percentage of the population, some by choice and some because of lack of money and opportunity, will never receive a college education.

Whether that is a problem or not could again be a subject of debate, but our society has rejected that model for k-12. There is no profit in educating poor kids, but society as a whole benefits from doing so anyway. Vouchers, and any form of k-12 that dictates that “your” money follows “your” kid, rather than pooling resources for a greater public good, is a step backwards.

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