Episode 6: Too Cool for School – the COVID effect

Main idea: With limited options for returning to school, the failure of the government monopoly is laid bare.

• Who we are
  • I’m Kasie, I’m in Columbia and my daughter is 12. We’re planning to homeschool in the Fall. Something I never thought I’d say.
  • I’m Jessica. I live in the Upstate of South Carolina, and I have two boys. Our schools have gone to an alternating schedule which has complicated things for our family.
  • I’m Alex. Our little Perry is just one, but we always planned to homeschool for a number of reasons.
  • I’m Melissa – Mother of 3 in the Lowcountry. 5th grade son in virtual school and 2 daughters (K & 2nd grade) at a magnet Montessori school. If I keep my girls home, they lose their spot in the magnet program.
• Parenting Porcupines is: funny mom stories, common experiences, and honest conversations about how our Libertarian principles play a role in our parenting.
  • The hot topic right now is return-to-school so we’re working that problem out using our Libertarian ideals in this episode. At issue: insufficient options, family circumstances, centralized planning, state control, and this Reason.com article that exposes the union influence on policy making.
• Today’s topic: School Options, Restrictions, and Arbitrary Guidelines
  • What’s each family’s scenario on going back to school?
  • Are your concerns about safety?
  • South Carolina’s Education Oversight Committee’s 2020 report says we are spending an average of $14,000 per student per year on education. Our system is funded to the tune of $10B total in combined federal, state, and local revenue.
  • The reality is that education is serving two primary purposes: 
    • 1) occupy children while parents are working, 
    • 2) meet the compulsory education obsession we have in this country.
  • We’re not going to “defund schools” so even as free market options emerge, they’re looking to get paid by the state education revenue machine.
    • Taxes — property tax allocation for schools
    • Allocation of Tax Money- Greenville County Real Property Taxes on our primary residence: GREENVILLE SCHOOL 63% or $1,513.63; This is the allocation on Jess’s rental property: GREENVILLE SCHOOL 55% or $565.89
    • Link to the SC DOR’s policy manual. Check out pages 32 and 33. There’s an offset “credit” — see images

• Coming up on the next episode: 
  • The Monopoly Effect: Charity is voluntary, and taxation is theft
• Follow us on all the socials
• Thanks and goodbye

What’s happening in your county and state? What will you do with your kids come fall? Leave a comment.