Okay, before anyone makes any big judgments here, in between the ridiculous shots of Islamic crescents next to a guy talking about a pagan society, remember what public schools are actually like. We’re talking about a system in which bad teachers cannot be fired, it’s easier to discipline children than adults and drop out rates in some areas like Detroit are actually over 50%. That’s not to mention that the system as a whole is still operating under a rigid, hundred year old model designed for another century.

The man who says that “giving your children over to strangers” to “shape their mind” is a “mad idea” is absolutely right. It is. Historically, parents have had far more control over shaping their children. In the public school system, children now find themselves spending the large degree of their years between five years old and eighteen years old being administered by strangers who are largely worried about their union position and pay. There are good teachers and exceptions, of course, but public school priorities are not with child well being, the extremely critical responsibility of dealing with children at a tender age, bullying, a modern curriculum, etc. They’re with maintaining careers.

Because religious schools are the main counterpoint to public schools, it was inevitable that they stepped in to preach the gospel (no pun intended) but the gospel has already been preached with secular films like Waiting For Superman. That doesn’t make the point that public education in this country is in need of reform any less salient, however.