To Fix Schools, Jettison the State

Washington, DC's public schools are a mess worse than most. A new proposal to amend the District's Home Rule Charter (our quasi-constitution) would do nothing to fix them. It reads as follows:

The fundamental right to free educational opportunities is a basic value of our society and serves as a foundation of our democratic system of government. Accordingly, the District of Columbia is hereby obligated to provide a system of free high quality public schools to every child.

I propose shortening and amending it to read:

The District of Columbia is hereby obligated to ensure that every person up to age 16 attends a school of their own choosing, to be paid for by that student's family or by a funder(s) of that student's family's/guardian's choosing.

The Washington Times -- without the benefit of having read my proposal -- likes things just the way they are.

[Thanks to Alan for the tip.]