Healing Charlottesville
Education ought not be through coercion.Wednesday 9 January 2002
Letters Dear Editor: I have enjoyed the education debate in The Daily Progress letters forum. A 1982 graduate of Charlottesville High School, I would like to add my two cents. The one thing that would revolutionize education is to legalize truancy; in other words, have no legal consequence for not going to school. The economic consequences should be sufficient motivation. Making school voluntary would reaffirm freedom. Our forefathers thought freedom meant that no one, including government, may require anyone be present anywhere for any reason except through a written court order specifically naming the individual whose liberty is curtailed. The two exceptions are parental control over children and military conscription. If education were truly important, its compulsion would not be necessary. Food is more important but there�s no law to eat. Shelter is more important but being homeless is legal. College is voluntary but somehow enrollment is at an all-time high. Can you imagine Patrick Henry saying, "Give me education or give me death?" Educational requirements serve to set aside the high-paying jobs for those who can afford a higher education. No amount of self-study, hard work, ability or accomplishment will qualify you for a job if you don�t have the degree. Old-timers used to ask, "Why don�t you get a job at the ground floor and work your way to the top?" They quit asking because that kind of upward mobility is no longer permitted. I have a dream that some day I�ll get the best job because I am the best, not necessarily the best educated.
Blair Hawkins Printed 14 Jan 2002. Posted
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