Drugs and Education

America has a drug problem.  There are more people in prison for drug crimes in America than in any other country.  In addition to overcrowded prisons, many people blame drugs for the failing schools in the inner cities.  To a certain degree, I would say that is true, but I would argue the approach is completely wrong.

Let's use an example, shall we?  Tommy is a student at a failing high school.  Let's say he's 14.  Tommy is surrounded by drug culture.  He sees drug dealers with their flashy cars and gold jewelry and sees them as being successful in life.  On the other hand, he is also being told by the local community (churches, politicians, community organizers, etc.) that what he SHOULD be doing is staying in school, studying hard, and get a legitimate job/career.  These groups who try to fight the drug trade have their hearts in the right place, but they're ignoring the cold hard facts... you can't fight "capitalism" with "morality."  Put more simply, there is a demand for drugs.  The drug dealers are simply meeting that market demand by supplying them with what they want.  The violence that accompanying the drug trade only exists because it is illegal.  Alcohol prohibition in the 1920s gave rise to notorious gangsters like Al Capone because he was meeting a demand.  However, now that it is legal to drink alcohol, the business is legitimized.  That is why you don't see Budwiser and Coors engaging in shootouts on the streets of Chicago.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of our poor inner-city high school student, Tommy.  You're in a failing school.  You're probably performing at the level of a elementary/middle school student as a result of the failing school.  You need to start thinking of your life after high school.  IF you graduate, you're still looking at some pretty crappy options with only a high school diploma.  You could start attending a community college to learn a trade... perhaps nursing or something that doesn't require a lot of schooling.  But you know that you have an even more lucrative option available to you.... and it doesn't require any education whatsoever; selling drugs.

Today, most people chose to fight the drug problem by force.  Thus, we have heavy prison sentences and wide-reaching prohibition.  Unfortunately, when there is a market for a product, the market will ALWAYS prevail.  Therefore, the war on drugs is a complete failure.

So what do we do?  It's not only destroying people's lives, but the education system of major cities is in shambles because these kids don't see the value in education.  My solution is simple: legalize all drugs.

It may sound extreme, but allow me to explain.  As I mentioned earlier, Al Capone became very rich as a result of 1920s alcohol prohibition.  Many people were killed fighting over turf in which to sell alcohol to the customers who demanded it.  Once it was legalized, those bootleggers were put out of business, simply because they were not smart enough to transition to a legitimate business.  If all drugs were legalized tomorrow, all drug dealers would be pawning their fancy cars, jewelry, and expensive electronics because nobody would be buying from them anymore.  They would be broke!  Instead, if you wanted a vile of crack cocaine, you could just go to the local Walgreens and buy it.  Not only would it be more convenient, but the price would be much lower since Walgreens a much more effective business model with regards to lowering prices through mass production.  Drug dealers would not be able to compete.  Eventually, if you want to deal drugs, you'll have to have 4 years of college and pharmacy school.  Either that or you get a job as a pharmacy tech making $11 an hour.  Dealing drugs will become a legitimate career.  A legitimate career in which you need an education.  Schools would improve with students suddenly taking their studies more serious, as the big draw that pulled students out of schools is no longer available.  Education is once again seen as required. 

Anxiety grows as CPS releases preliminary school closings list

Anxiety grows as CPS releases preliminary school closings list

"Our schools don't need to close," Dwayne Truss, vice chairman of CPS' Austin Community Action Council, said in front of hundreds of people packed inside a church auditorium in the West Side neighborhood. "CPS is perpetrating a myth that there's a budget crisis."

CPS can't do basic accounting.   And we wonder why children stuggle in math....

Mandatory school age could fall from 7 to 5 in Illinois

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-11/news/ct-met-truancy-school-age-20130212_1_attendance-age-compulsory-age-kindergarten-and-first-grade

I think we truly need to ask ourselves if making school mandatory has helped our students.  Personally, I do support compulsory school up to high school, but once they graduate from 8th grade, students really need to start taking more ownership in their education.  If they are forced to attend high school, they have no ownership.  If a student has motivation issues, it's an extremely powerful tool to be able to give them the harsh wake-up call of "You don't want to be here?  Ok!  There's the door.  Good Luck!"  Sink or swim may sound harsh, but when we put these student's backs against the wall, they will spring forth.  With compulsory education, we are turning our high schools into daycare centers... especially in the "drug neighborhoods."

Education in Crisis

Education is in crisis in America.  This isn't new information if you've been paying attention to the news.  There are many reasons for this crisis; drugs, broken homes, poverty, poor teaching, failing schools, corruption, politics, bad parenting, and a systematic lack of opportunity coupled with a "pull factor" that is encouraging students to drop out.  Therefore, I have created this blog to discuss these flaws in American education, and to discuss the issues that nobody wants to discuss.  Welcome to Educators for Liberty.

In the blog, you will not hear me complain about how our schools are underfunded, our teachers are exploited, or how everyone is a "victim."  You can get that point of view anywhere else on the internet.  On this blog we will discuss real solutions to America's poor education system; Vouchers, charter schools, tenure reform, and a very critical examination of what the War on Drugs has done to education in America.  Thanks for coming, and I hope you enjoy the blog.