The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

Research Writing 131 taxable income, and both provide monetary relief for the purpose of funding education. Together, these four methods comprise the modern free choice based education system (“Fast Facts on School Choice”, 2016). The second notable point to be made when discussing free choice is that it is a fiercely polarizing topic. This great divide is merely aggravated by the fact that the split opinions typically fall within the opposing ideologies of modern liberalism and modern conservatism. On the liberal side are organizations such as the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the American Society for the Separation of Church and State (ASSCS), all of whom contend that free choice is a grave mistake and shouldbe avoided. ChuckSchumer, aUS senator fromNew York encapsulates this position with his statement, “I’m totally opposed to vouchers. I will fight them tooth and nail” (“Chuck Schumer Quotes at BrainyQuote.com”, 2016). Meanwhile, conservative groups such as the FFEC, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), and the American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI) promote free choice in any of its various incarnations. One of the foremost proponents of free choice was Milton Friedman, given his aforementioned reintroduction of the idea and his founding of the FFEC. Given these two sides, the logical question becomes: Who’s right? I will not attempt to hide the fact that (a) I am a fiscal and social conservative, (b) I consider Milton Friedman to be one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, and (c) I believe we should implement a free choice based education system. To do so would serve me no purpose. However, no set of ideas is above the scrutinizing eye of a rational and logical discussion, and a free choice based education system has a few points on which to be contested, specifically in regard to its fiscal and academic improvements. I aim to sufficiently answer those contested points and justify the validity, efficacy, and necessity of a free choice based education system. Ultimately, I believe that, based upon careful examination of the facts and proper application of logic, free choice in education should be permitted and funded in the United States because it is a financially viable option that promotes both higher literacy rates among school-age persons and a higher standard of education among schools.