Free Market Fundamentalist Opinion

The Argument Against Charter Schools

One opponent of school choice explains why we can’t have education that is “custom tailored” to individual students.

Via Cato @ Liberty, this New York Times article quotes a wealthy suburbanite who opposes the creation of a charter school in his neighborhood. Charter schools — which are publicly financed but independently operated — are “selfish,” he says.

“Public education is basically a social contract — we all pool our money, so I don’t think I should be able to custom design it to my needs,” he said, noting that he pays $15,000 a year in property taxes. “With these charter schools, people are trying to say, ‘I want a custom tailored education for my children, and I want you, as my neighbor, to pay for it.'”

Education that is “custom tailored” to individual students? Obviously, we can’t have that!