The arrogance of the public school monopoly: Part 6, Spilling over into general society, too
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Competition: the way a monopoly is dismantled
This week we offer a series of blogs looking at how the traditional public school system in Kentucky – which enjoys a virtual monopoly over deciding where your child can go to school – has been seduced by its own power in arrogant ways that adversely impact students and taxpayers alike. We will show how giving Kentucky parents the competition provided by badly needed school-choice options is the way to curb that monopoly power.
Monopoly schools attitudes even spill over into general Kentucky society
If you think the corrosive power of a monopoly school system mentality mostly just impacts parents and students, think again. These arrogant attitudes can impact all of us.
Case in Point: The vote buying scandal in Breathitt County
Media sources indicate the illegal activities included the local sheriff and targeted at least one school board race.
Furthermore, a lawsuit by two school employees claims the local board did not immediately remove the superintendent from his position after his initial arrest. Instead, the local board allegedly cooperated while the superintendent retaliated against other district employees who took part in the state and federal investigation.
There is no need to guess about how the attitudes in Breathitt County impacted school performance. Things got so bad that the Kentucky Board of Education took control of the school system in December of 2013 due to both financial considerations and dropping test scores.
This is the kind of incredibly toxic arrogance that can lurk in a monopoly school system, and the infection can spread far outside the schoolhouse door.
Kentucky’s needs to take actions to clip the monopoly school system’s wings. School choice would definitely help do that, creating a more competitive environment where the traditional public school system can no longer afford to take the public, parents and students for granted.