The Supreme Court Is About To Hear 2 Education Cases. Neither Goes Far Enough.
Before the end of April, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear not one, but two important education freedom cases. At stake in both is the ability of families to determine what children will learn.
Unfortunately, no matter how the cases are decided, neither will get us to where we ultimately need to be for a free and equal society: money following children to whatever education they and their families choose.
The first case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, is too narrow. Mahmoud pits parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, against a school district that prohibited them from opting their children out of readings promoting lifestyles at odds with their religious convictions.
School board member Lynne Harris unabashedly said imposition was necessary. “Saying that a kindergartener can’t be present when you read a book about a rainbow unicorn because it offends your religious rights or your family values or your core beliefs is just telling that kid, ‘Here’s another reason to hate another person,'” Harris said, adding “we are not going to do that in the school system.”
Government imposing the “right” morals is obviously at odds with a free, diverse society, and allowing for an opt-out is a no-brainer. But it is also just a bare minimum: Families would be able to shield their children from the imposition of values, but would still be given no power to choose a curriculum consist
Article from Reason.com
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