STRONG SCHOOLS

Public education is not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic—it is about creating a society where people can think critically, engage meaningfully, and resist exploitation. Yet, in many places, schools are starved of funding, teachers are underpaid, and students are subjected to a factory model of education that values obedience over intelligence. Billionaires and politicians send their own children to elite private schools while pushing policies that gut public education, ensuring that the majority remains underinformed and economically vulnerable.

This is not due to lack of money but misplaced priorities. The U.S. spends more per student than most developed countries—nearly $15,000 per pupil annually, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)—yet ranks far behind countries like Finland, Singapore, and Canada in student outcomes. Where does this money go? Corporate testing giants like Pearson and McGraw-Hill siphon billions from public education, while administrative costs balloon, leaving classrooms underfunded. Meanwhile, teachers in states like Oklahoma and Arizona have had to stage nationwide walkouts simply to demand textbooks that aren’t twenty years old and salaries that don’t require second jobs.

Schools, once bastions of democratic ideals, have become battlegrounds for corporate interests and political agendas. Total federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) funding alone was over $6.1 billion in the last 20 years. State and local funding significantly exceeds that amount, with some estimates suggesting tens of billions of dollars have shifted from traditional public schools to charter schools. Nearly one-third of federally funded charter schools either closed or never opened, wasting taxpayer money while public schools struggled to stay afloat. In Ohio and Florida scandals have exposed how charter operators enrich themselves while delivering substandard education.

Moreover, the funding model itself is structurally inequitable. Tying school budgets to local property taxes ensures that wealthy neighborhoods enjoy state-of-the-art facilities while poorer districts struggle to afford basic supplies. In Chicago, schools on the affluent North Side receive nearly double the per-pupil funding of schools on the city’s South and West Sides. The result is a two-tiered system where educational opportunity depends on zip code.

In contrast, countries like Finland, consistently ranked among the top education systems globally, prioritize teacher training, student autonomy, and a curriculum focused on creativity and problem-solving rather than standardized tests. According to Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert, the key to their success is simple: “We prepare our teachers like professionals and treat them like professionals.” Finnish teachers must hold a master’s degree, and they are trusted to create their own lesson plans, rather than being forced to teach to standardized tests dictated by bureaucrats. Meanwhile, in the U.S., teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers—almost 300,000 public school teachers quit in 2022 alone, citing burnout, low pay, and lack of respect, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

While public schools are under siege, proven educational models like Waldorf and Montessori remain sidelined, dismissed as niche alternatives rather than integrated into the public system. Waldorf education, founded by Rudolf Steiner, emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, rejecting the overuse of screens and standardized testing. Montessori schools, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, focus on student-driven learning, hands-on exploration, and fostering intrinsic motivation. Both models produce graduates who are academically capable, socially aware, and innovative.

Underfunded schools produce underinformed adults who are easier to manipulate, less likely to vote, and more vulnerable to propaganda. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that a third of American students cannot accurately describe what fascism is, and the Pew Research Center found that only 26% of Americans could name all three branches of government. These are not accidental failures. The political class has no interest in an informed population capable of questioning authority. A weak education system ensures a passive and easily controlled public.

Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that children in poorly funded schools experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. A 2019 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that students in underfunded districts are more likely to drop out, earn lower wages, and even suffer worse health outcomes over their lifetime. What message does this send? That some children deserve a quality education while others are disposable.

International models reveal how things could be different. In Germany, vocational training is integrated into secondary education, ensuring that students graduate with real-world skills and clear career paths. Japan’s public schools emphasize ethics and civic responsibility alongside academics, embedding social cohesion into their curriculum. In both countries, education is treated not as a public investment with long-term societal returns.

The rise of artificial intelligence further underscores the need for robust public education. AI will not just transform workplaces; it will reshape civic life, amplifying both opportunities and inequalities. Students trained only to pass standardized tests will be left defenseless against misinformation and algorithmic manipulation. True education—rich in critical thinking, media literacy, and ethical reasoning—is the only defense against a future where technology outpaces understanding.

A society that weakens its public schools does so deliberately, ensuring that power remains concentrated in the hands of the few. If we refuse to invest in education, we are choosing ignorance as national policy.

Therefore, under Folklaw:

Public schools must be fully funded, with teacher salaries raised to reflect their essential role in society. Education funding must be detached from property taxes to ensure all schools, regardless of zip code, receive equal resources.

Standardized testing must be reduced in favor of education models that prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Schools must incorporate civic engagement, media literacy, and historical education that teaches students how to resist authoritarianism.

Public education funding shall no longer be diverted to charter schools or other privatization schemes. Instead, proven pedagogical approaches, such as Waldorf and Montessori methods, will be integrated into public education systems, so that every child has access to learning environments that foster creativity, autonomy, and critical thinking.