Free to choose chapter 6

Chapter 6: What’s wrong with our schools?
Milton Friedman starts this chapter describing the school system in the past. He tells the reader that when the schools were voluntary and schools were private, education was fine. Nowadays in the elementary and secondary level, Friedman says that the quality of our schools vary tremendously. This, plus the gradual transition of power from parents to professional school authorities have caused a decline in the quality of graduated students. The process of centralization and school bureaucracies has resulted in larger classes, a reduction in the ability of the consumer to choose, and an increase in the power of producers (i.e. teachers, administrators). To solve this problem Friedman wants to introduce a voucher/ coupon system. Under this plan, parents would be given vouchers equivalent to what typically is paid now to support one child for one year in the school. These vouchers could be spent at any school of the parents’ choice or wh...