Why is education not free in the united states. Education is a human right for a

1. 49

   WilliamParadiseposted 10 years ago

   Why is education not free in the united states. Education is a human right for all people

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2. 70

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   In the U.S. public education and library use are free to students.
   Technically our property taxes pay for it.
   People hate paying higher taxes!
   College and trade schools on the other hand are not free. However in some instances like Chicago where the mayor recently announced students who maintained a "B" average in high school could go to a two year community college within the city for free.

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3. 67

   connorjposted 10 years ago

   
   
   You may perhaps "drag a horse to water yet you cannot force it to drink" atleast beyond high school without compulsory attendance and that will just ruin everything for someone of legal age...

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4. 62

   Irek Janekposted 10 years ago

   I don't think that education (at least the good one) is free anywhere. The only difference is that you either pay your taxes and for your child education or you pay for all children's education.

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5. 58

   Robert the Bruceposted 10 years ago

   William, what is your basis for saying that education is a human right?
   
   Don't get me wrong, I think that better educated societies advance in practically every way toward a better way of life.
   
   However, your use of the word "right" bothers me a bit. Education should be sought after, but what exactly makes it a right?

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6. 61

   cjhunsingerposted 10 years ago

   William
   Education is, essentially, free, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Paid for by the tax payer.
   Under the US Constitution, as is healthcare, education is not a Right, but you, most certainly, have a right to achieve it. To claim such as a Right one does not abide by the Constitution,  but rather the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
   "Normative instruments of the United Nations and UNESCO lay down international legal obligations for the right to education. These instruments promote and develop the right of every person to enjoy access to education of good quality, without discrimination or exclusion. These instruments bear witness to the great importance that Member States and the international community attach to normative action for realizing the right to education. It is for governments to fulfil their obligations both legal and political in regard to providing education for all of good quality and to implement and monitor more effectively education strategies." United Nations
   The US educational system has failed as our world wide ranking is that of a third world country. And it has failed due to the weight of government intrusion and unionism.

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7. 0

   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   Defining free becomes difficult. Even in the 1800s students had to provide their own slates.
   Our taxes pay for public education, which is available to everyone. People without children in school, pay school taxes just like the parents who have children in school. It is part of what makes a community. We do the same for parks and libraries.
   Parents have to buy school supplies, but many get help from various groups.
   Some parents, who pay the public school taxes, send their children to religious or private schools.
   In my state, the religious schools are entitled to same free text books used in public schools. Some accept them and some use a different program. Bus transportation is provided to private/religious schools that have a large enough population to justify bus service.
   Every 16th section of land in this country is dedicated to education. Sometimes there are mineral rights, other times it is rented out,  or if it is a forest, lumbering is allowed, with the profits going to the school system.
   Education is about as free as it can possibly be. Some money has to be collected in some way to build schools, pay teachers and buy needed equipment.
   Education is not free anywhere. There is always a cost. Some, through taxes or donations subsidize the cost of providing basic education to all who will accept it. Some parent's home school--maybe that works for some. I do not know. My wife is a retired teacher. She worked more than 20 years in three cities in the Catholic school system.
   Teachers is Catholic schools make less, than public school teachers and spend  a considerable amount of their own money on supplies.
   Everyone has a right to an education. No one ever said it would be free. Public schools may not charge tuition, but the education has to be funded in some manner.

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