An Alternative to Government Schools

Few positives have emerged from the government’s response to COVID-19. One positive is that parents discovered alternatives to government schools for their children. Many have continued to utilize these alternatives. Microschools are a promising alternative to government schools.

As the name implies, microschools are small—typically serving fifteen or fewer students. Often, the students are at different grade levels. Similar to Montessori schools, students can select which projects to pursue and proceed at their own pace. This allows each student to study topics that interest him.

Unlike government schools, microschools are individualized. Like all private alternatives to government schools, parents and students can choose a school that teaches the curriculum and values that the parents support. Because each student can study the subjects of interest to him, the student essentially has control over much of his education. Compare this to the regimented, “woke” curriculum offered at most government schools.

Microschools aren’t bloated with bureaucracy and influenced by political considerations. Parents, students, and teachers—not politicians and educational bureaucrats—determine what is taught.

Education has long been a government monopoly. As more parents become dissatisfied with government schools, they are seeking alternatives. Similarly, many teachers are also dissatisfied with government schools, and they too are seeking alternatives.

Josh Pickel was one of those teachers. After starting a digital media club at his school, he noticed students were more engaged when they were allowed to choose which projects to work on. He began to wonder: “What if we removed coercion and those kids were allowed to focus their energy and their intellect on things they care about?” To test his idea, he launched Canton Learning Collaborative.

Unfortunately, many parents can’t afford an alternative to government schools. They are already being taxed to support those schools. That money belongs to the tax paying parents. If the money was not coercively taken by government, more parents could afford an alternative to government schools. Josh Pickel is seeking to take coercion out of the classroom. Tax payers should demand that government stop using coercion to finance schools.