Free to Choose 1980 - Volume 6: What's Wrong With Our Schools?

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6
Parental choice and parental responsibility in the education of children is the U.S. tradition and is consistent with a free society. Centralized government control has eroded freedom and adversely affected the quality of education. The poor help pay for education for the future rich. Friedman has long advocated using vouchers to solve the problem. In "Free to Choose 1980 Volume 6 - What's Wrong With Our Schools?" he explains why. Friedman visits U.S. and Britain and debates Albert Shanker; President of the American Federation of Teachers, John Coons; Initiative for Public Choice in California, Thomas Shannon; National School Boards Association, and Gregory Anrig; Department of Education. Free To Choose was an award winning PBS television series featuring the Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman. 10 films make up the series, each featuring a short documentary where Milton Friedman presents his views on a given topic followed by a discussion and debate with various participants including politicians, academics, business people, et al. In general the views expressed are contrary to the status quo of government involvement in daily life. At the time the series first aired it was given poor time slots by station managers that did not want it broadcast, and the program was even banned in France. Despite this suppression, the series went on to become a smash success leading to the best selling non-fiction book of 1980 and a follow-up series in 1990.
Internet Streaming Source
IdeaChannel.tv
Video Sharing Sites
YouTube (samples only)
Direct Download
Bit Torrent
DVD Purchase
IdeaChannel.com
More Information
Full Transcript Free to Choose @ Wikipedia FreetoChoose.com

ABC 20/20: Stupid in America with John Stossel

"Are kids in the United States being cheated out of a quality education? In this special 20/20 report, John Stossel reveals the surprising truth. American high school students fizzle in international comparisons, placing well behind other countries, even poorer countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and South Korea. American kids do pretty well when they enter public school, but as time goes on, the worse they do. Why? School officials complain that they need more money, but as Stossel reports, most of the countries that outperform us spend less per student than we do. There are many factors that contribute to failure in school, but according to some, foremost is the government’s monopoly over the school system, which means that most parents don't get to choose where to send their children. In other countries, choice fosters competition, and competition improves performance. Stossel questions government officials, union leaders, parents and students. He also examines how the educational system can be improved upon and reports on innovative programs across the country."
Video Sharing Sites
YouTube
Direct Download
Bit Torrent
DVD Purchase
ABC 20/20