In Defense of Public Schools in North America

Luke Lawson is a teacher and administrator in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

A recent cover of The Economist depicted the Statue of Liberty with the
caption, “Hands up all those who think vouchers would improve
America’s schools.” This is only one fragment of the fierce debate
over school choice, the quality of public education, and the relative
merits of such alternatives as private schools, charter schools, home
schooling, and the use of vouchers. The main argument advanced in this
book is that, although some reforms are needed, public schools still
offer the widest and best range of educational opportunities.

Unfortunately, the authors’ focus on the history of education comes
at the expense of the current debate; only the final 30 pages offer any
real contemporary discussion. And while the authors are quick to dismiss
private schools, charter schools, and the voucher system, their defence
of public schools does not venture beyond the tired, feel-good notion
that tolerance (multiculturalism), acceptance, appreciation, and
understanding are hallmarks of the public school system. They do not
discuss the problems that are causing parents to abandon public schools
in record numbers: violence and vandalism, poor educational standards,
the failure to remove bad teachers and reward good teachers, bloated
bureaucracies, and inflexible unions. A genuine defence of public
education—assuming such a thing is possible—would have addressed
these issues.