Comments on: The Invisible Hand… http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/the-invisible-hand.html Education News, Analysis, and Commentary Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:21:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Malcolm Coate http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/the-invisible-hand.html/comment-page-1#comment-71727 Malcolm Coate Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:34:58 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3909#comment-71727 As an economist, I see this as a classic free rider problem. The State has an obligation to educate children. However, Catholics, a minority group, prefer to educate children within their community. Historically, the State has free-riden on this minority, although I really can't see how reading, writing, and arithmetic is religious. Free rider problems generally result in the eventually collapse of the victim and substantial cost to the perpetrator. In effect, the State can pay now, or pay more tomorrow. In 1960, half the Catholic community was educated privately, today maybe 15%. As an economist, I see this as a classic free rider problem. The State has an obligation to educate children. However, Catholics, a minority group, prefer to educate children within their community. Historically, the State has free-riden on this minority, although I really can’t see how reading, writing, and arithmetic is religious. Free rider problems generally result in the eventually collapse of the victim and substantial cost to the perpetrator. In effect, the State can pay now, or pay more tomorrow. In 1960, half the Catholic community was educated privately, today maybe 15%.

]]> By: JSP http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/the-invisible-hand.html/comment-page-1#comment-71432 JSP Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:24:13 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3909#comment-71432 Maybe the "greatness" stems from more traditional curriculum and instruction with less attention to educational whims ??? Where would that put most ed reformers?? Maybe the “greatness” stems from more traditional curriculum and instruction with less attention to educational whims ??? Where would that put most ed reformers??

]]> By: Matthew Ladner http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/the-invisible-hand.html/comment-page-1#comment-71280 Matthew Ladner Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:38:31 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3909#comment-71280 Andy- There in the district, students going to public schools receive over $20,000 per kid, charter schools $13k. With the small exception in recent years of the voucher program, Catholic school parents got next to nothing. Milton Friedman made the point that is difficult for any provider to compete against a product which is provided free of charge, even if the product provided is quite shoddy. Andy-

There in the district, students going to public schools receive over $20,000 per kid, charter schools $13k. With the small exception in recent years of the voucher program, Catholic school parents got next to nothing.

Milton Friedman made the point that is difficult for any provider to compete against a product which is provided free of charge, even if the product provided is quite shoddy.

]]> By: Andrew Pass http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/the-invisible-hand.html/comment-page-1#comment-70828 Andrew Pass Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:36:06 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3909#comment-70828 Using public funds to prop up Catholic schools or any other type of private schools would be worse than using public funds to prop up private companies, instead of letting them fail. With regard to supporting religious schools, I fear that we'd begin a slippery slope that could end with the introduction of religious education into traditional public schools. http://www.lessontech.blogspot.com Using public funds to prop up Catholic schools or any other type of private schools would be worse than using public funds to prop up private companies, instead of letting them fail. With regard to supporting religious schools, I fear that we’d begin a slippery slope that could end with the introduction of religious education into traditional public schools.

http://www.lessontech.blogspot.com

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