THE LAST DITCH

Follow-Up Letter to a Very Bright 11th-Grader

American state school teachers may, for all I know, be as consistently left-wing as ours. One needs no conspiracy theory to account for it. People who choose careers financed by force either have no scruples about it when they sign up, or soon learn all the excuses necessary to live with a clear conscience. Such careers are simply not attractive to those of an independent spirit – though many such are to be found teaching in private schools.

It's heartening however that – because so much of it is independently-financed – American higher education (though hardly pure) still has enough diversity to allow the linked exchange between an economics professor and an 11th grader.

Can anyone imagine such correspondence with a pupil in a British state school?

2 responses to “What chance to our children have of hearing these arguments?”

  1. James Strong Avatar
    James Strong

    ‘financed by force’ Although this is an accurate description there are not many people who would recognise it as such. State education is widely regarded as a free service, as is the NHS.
    That widespread perception presents challenges.

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  2. james higham Avatar

    American state school teachers may, for all I know, be as consistently left-wing as ours.
    They had the mortgage on it. Google Eric Foner, the teacher trainer.

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Tom is a retired international lawyer. He was a partner in a City of London law firm and spent almost twenty years abroad serving clients from all over the world.

Returning to London on retirement in 2011, he was dismayed to discover how much liberty had been lost in the UK while he was away.

He’s a classical liberal (libertarian, if you must) who, like his illustrious namesake, considers that

“…government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”

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