The argument I made is in the inherent flaw of many people to open their mind to alternative points of view. Like many issue which divide us politically, it appears you've already closed your mind to a potential solutions which has largely come from the political right in America.
It's fine-and-dandy to say we want to be creative, but creativity requires an open enquiring mind, creativity requires the willingness to try and fail, creativity and innovation require experimentation. Closing ones mind to the potential of vouchers, or charter schools, to help better the system of education is the opposite of innovation.
In the inner cities, where education is failing systemically across the board, I am willing to try almost anything. I am open to your ideas. Yet, I believe there is no argument I could make which would in any way alter your view regarding the value of vouchers.
Can liberal politicians who fight tooth and nail against even the possibility of vouchers truly make the claim they are open to any innovative solution? Can teachers, union leaders, and superintendents of public education who have closed their mind to the possibility of structural reform do the same?
That's my point. And in many ways you made it for me.
As a political entity, the teachers union is one of the most influential forces shaping our culture. Their inability to even consider innovative solutions such as vouchers and charter schools is destructive and dangerous imo.
It's interesting to note that in Great Britain Tony Blair has instituted broad-based structural reform. Giving the next generation the best education system in the world should be more important than protecting a lobby group, or scoring political points.
The cycle of despair you allude to in the inner cities is an indirect result of a failing education system. As each year passes, the loop continues to feed back on itself. |
