The Market for Education: Part 2.
As we discussed in the last post, it’s possible, if we can set aside preconceived notions, politics, and emotions, to view the market for education like the market for anything else-shoes, for instance.
But, you might say, we CAN’T set aside our emotions! The fact is, we’ve had government schools for a century or more and we DO pay taxes to support them. Sometimes we love them, sometimes we tolerate them, sometimes we hate them. Some of us feel passionately that, given that they exist and a few million kids have no choice but to attend them, we ought to put our efforts into making them better.
This is a very valid argument. If at all possible, the ‘shoe store’ the government runs ought to be improved. Perhaps we can advocate for better shoe makers who understand foot design. That might help. We could even push for better managers who can support the shoe makers such that they make really good shoes. Research into the best way to make steel-toed boots must surely help.
Others say, that’s all good, go for it, but why can’t we also have private shoe stores? We could have a sneaker specialist and a dance shoe specialist. We could have a general shoe store that makes all sorts of shoes. Nobody is stopping anyone from improving the steel-toed boots or accessing them. It’s just that they simply, no matter how great they become, will not serve the needs of many people. It is not elitist to have private shoe stores, as well. In fact, some shoe stores will provide very affordable, high quality shoes and others may have pay-what-you-can models subsidized by those who want to do a bit of good in the world. I mean- it could happen.
A few might even say, we could just shut down the government shoe stores all together and turn the whole thing over to private stores. Entrepreneurs get really creative sometimes. Some people might invent ‘barefoot shoes’ (this is actually a thing), and others might invent a kind with just a bottom and simple strap across the top. Why not allow altruism to fill the gaps for the most barefoot? In fact, if some people want to go barefoot, who are we to say they shouldn't?!
In each of these arguments, there is a belief system. The first believes society owes education to its citizens as a public good. The government providers want the best for the kids, the school leaders and teachers want the best for the kids, and they know what that is without the price signalling inherent in a free market system (remember that part? Where we tell providers what we value and how much by choosing where to spend our dollars?).
The second group likely believes the same to some extent (kind of like Jefferson), but they also believe strongly that there are some inherent failures in a system that can’t use those free market signals or price and choice. If the shoes are free and don’t fit and there’s nothing else except really expensive shoes at one place across town, people will keep consuming the shoes just so they have something, but their only mechanism to show that the shoes don’t fit is showing up to speak up, complaining, trying to activate change, etc….
But if the managers and makers and owners are still collecting their money and still clearing the shoes off the shelves, is this a language they understand? The people in the second group are a bit skeptical. Cynical as they may seem, they kind of believe that money talks and that the freedom to choose is an inherent freedom that ought to be respected. So start the new stores, show discontent by not just complaining (although go ahead and do that too), but by actually leaving.
The last group has almost no trust in the government system at all, and quite a bit of trust in the ‘market’. The market will work it out, they say. Just give it time.
Understanding, and, dare I say, respecting, the underlying belief systems of those who may not agree with us usually makes way for better chances at a civil respectful discussion.
There’s a whole other layer we could discuss about those who have been harmed. Some people might have permanent damage from the boots that fit so badly and they stumbled in for years, that they will never walk well again. Others may be limping along and they really just hate walking- who could ever like walking anyway?- but it is what it is, get over it. They get a little defensive. They are doing it, aren’t they?! But hating walking is not normal. It is a sign of a problem somewhere. Walking should rarely, if ever, be painful. Still others walk just fine in the steel-toe boots. No problem at all.
Some of these hurt people look at the ones who seem to do just fine and see they have nice houses and cars and can afford physical therapists and podiatrists. Meanwhile, they are driving old cars, working their tails off for a small apartment, and can’t afford a podiatrist. They are permanently harmed and have no choice but to keep wearing the boots and try as they may, nobody seems to be listening to them that something isn’t right. Maybe they get really radical and go barefoot. Or, maybe, after struggling along for weeks or years, they sell their car, move to cheaper housing, get a second job, and, darn it, go to that private shoe store and get a really comfortable pair of shoes. They sigh in relief. They HAD to do something and they did and it was stinkin’ HARD. They get a bit defensive too, because the people in the nice car with their weekly PT might seem indifferent, or, even worse, imply they should have just stuck it out longer in the bad boots and been more activist in their spare time.
Ouch. I don’t want to be in the room if both of those groups get at each other. Except I actually do…if they can each understand each other’s beliefs and suffering with curiosity and compassion. That could be a great conversation.
