If you’ve got 300 million people, most of whom produce nothing for themselves or for the community and to whom everything has to be brought from somewhere else, then there’s no way you’re going to have limited government, or limited anything. All organizations feed upon the helplessness and ignorance and passivity of the people.
Hammer, sow, slaughter, drill, knead, write, harvest, brew, sew, strum. Do something.
If you are in reasonably good health with no disabilities you should be able to make simple repairs. If you do, you quickly learn that even simple repairs often go sideways, and you need to solve problems.
A child's education should, at a minimum, teach her how to solve problems.
***
I sometimes make an overly hoppy ale, because I like hops, especially in ale. Occasionally I find myself calculating the cost per bottle, comparing it to the cost of a decent commercial brew I like. And that's a mistake.
You cannot monetize joy. Too many of us have monetized joy right out of our lives.
What does this have to do with public schools? Well, depends on why you think public schools exist.
Is it to create corporate-ready workers or to create citizens capable of inheriting a functioning democracy?
If you want the latter, then art, woodshop, music, cooking, and sewing classes matter, probably more than science, at least the way science is traditionally taught, because every one of those classes involves persistence, problem-solving, and joy.
If you don't like swarrin' or truth, skip the video--
It's near impossible for democracy to flourish in a population that could barely feed itself if each citizen were given 40 acres of fertile land and a decent water supply.
My Mom grew up with "Georgie," the only kid in her neighborhood who could skate faster than her.
I miss both of them.