by Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project:
(Mises Institute) As we begin the new year, pessimism is rife in the liberty movement. Many are struck by a pervasive and overwhelming feeling that the enemies of freedom are winning and our movement is in disarray. However, not all news from recent times has been grim. A particular sphere of American politics stands out as a place where liberty is winning.
The first half of the 2020’s has seen an enormous exodus from the government education system. While decreasing enrollment numbers can be partially attributed to a decline in birthrates, enrollment in private schools and home education is certainly a major factor. In fact, this movement away from government education is so drastic, that many public schools are being forced to consider shutting down entirely.
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This should be cause for tremendous optimism. Public education is an obstacle to liberty, as it has morphed into an entity promoting state control. We understand that compulsory schooling—particularly when controlled by the government—is a dangerous and vile practice which violates the rights of both children and parents and serves to strengthen state power through propaganda.
One noteworthy aspect of this trend is that it is taking place in a market which is decidedly unfree. At all levels of government, control over the education of children is viewed as a valuable weapon, and anything which challenges the status quo is rightly considered a threat. This makes it all the more remarkable that various forms of market-driven education are managing to outcompete their state-run counterparts.
To those with a sound understanding of economics, this development is actually not that surprising. Due to its market-driven nature, the alternative education ecosystem has some inherent advantages over public school from a consumer perspective. The very term “alternative education” conceals within it a dizzying array of choices. It is an umbrella term that covers all non-state education, from homeschooling to traditional brick and mortar private schools.
Microschools in particular have benefited from the post-covid exodus. When one considers the breadth of choices offered, the appeal of the industry as a whole makes sense. The different products offered ensure that any family can find the right solution, no matter how unique. Still, in most states, public school holds the advantage of having already been paid for with money stolen from taxpayers, whereas private education must be funded out of pocket. With this in mind, non-state education options must fight to differentiate themselves from the government-run alternative, which most still view as the default option. Thankfully this is being done with great success.
Flexibility is the classic way non-state education options give themselves a market edge. While traditional private schools often recreate the same environment of their government-funded counterparts, microschools and homeschooling have successfully marketed themselves as more flexible options. It isn’t overly difficult to find stories of children being mistreated by a system which is overly rigid, only to find success when given more customizable options. Families struggling with illness or disability are able to improve their situation by setting their own schedule, unshackled by government regulations that are more concerned with making sure children spend the appropriate amount of time in a seat than the overall quality of their lives.
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