[287] in libertarians
Laissez Faire Book News: SEPARATING SCHOOL AND STATE
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Whitten)
Thu Sep 29 14:56:07 1994
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 14:48:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Whitten <lfb@panix.com>
Apparently-To: <libertarians@mit.edu>
At last, the case for abolishing government school taxes
and compulsory attendance laws--and achieving 100% private,
voluntary education
SEPARATING SCHOOL AND STATE
How to Liberate America's Families
by Sheldon Richman
(reviewed by Jim Powell)
This is a thrilling book. Although there have been several
powerful books on education during the past year, Richman ventures
where no one has dared go before. A senior editor at the Cato
Institute, he mounts the most fundamental challenge to the
government school monopoly, and he provides an exhilarating vision
of how much better off everyone would be with 100% private,
voluntary education.
Richman brings to this vital issue first-hand experience as
well as scholarly knowledge of government schools. For a while, he
and his wife Kathleen (Laissez Faire's graphic designer) sent one
of their three children to a government school. Now they are
passionate homeschoolers.
First of all, a shocker: contrary to complaints that
government schools have declined, Richman shows they are doing
exactly what they are supposed to do. He traces the horrifying
history of government schools from ancient Sparta to Martin Luther,
Prussia's Frederick William III, Horace Mann, John Dewey and
contemporary apologists, whose avowed aim has been to suppress
individual initiative and support the state. Intellectual
development was never the primary mission of government schools.
Richman shows how from the very beginning, defenders of individual
liberty understood the evil implications of government school taxes
and compulsory school attendance laws--the pillars of government
schooling.
Richman shows how none of today's best-known educational
reforms--government charter schools, contracting out and vouchers--
address the consequences of compulsion. He makes an elegant case
for totally separating education from the state, which means
abolishing government school taxes and compulsory school attendance
laws, so individuals will be completely free to pursue education
that best serves their needs. Richman affirms that parents are far
more highly motivated than bureaucrats to help children succeed.
Book No. ED6113 (paperback) 128 pages $12.95
Book No. ED6114 (hardcover) $19.95
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Thank you,
Chris
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Chris Whitten lfb@panix.com
Laissez Faire Books 1-800-326-0996
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