Is it the duty of the government to educate its citizens?

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW LOCATION (29th & 7th)

A widespread view is that public education is a political right and a fundamental necessity for a functioning and free society, enabling individuals to make informed decisions, pursue productive careers, and contribute meaningfully to civic life. From this perspective, public education is seen as an investment in the nation’s future, ensuring equality of opportunity and preventing ignorance from undermining democratic self-government.

Are these premises true? In this Meetup, I will present an argument that makes the opposite claim: that education, because it is essential, is not properly the role of government but of individuals, parents, and voluntary institutions, i.e. that government control of education necessarily imposes ideological conformity, eliminates competition and innovation, and violates the rights of parents and of those others forced to finance it.

Attendees will be encouraged to contest this argument if they disagree with it, as well as present their own arguments in favor of the moral right to, and practical need of, public education.

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Our Meetup location, Le Pain Quotidien, is a private business; so that our group remains welcome, please don't arrive with beverages purchased from outside, and please be willing to purchase at least one beverage or menu item during the event.

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING NO-SHOWS

Unfortunately, there is a longstanding problem in our group with large numbers of people who sign up frivolously and neither cancel nor show up, leading to large waiting lists of others who lose their opportunity to attend. Please note that going forward, those who sign up and neither cancel nor show up will be permanently removed from the group. Also, if you need to cancel, please have the courtesy to give at least 24 hours' advance notice rather than canceling immediately before the event, so those on the waiting list have an opportunity to attend.