For profit education is education that is sold by corporations and designed privately by those corporations to suit their purposes. This is contrary to the maintenance of a democracy and the antithesis of the desires of the founding fathers.
History of For Profit Education
In the early days of the United States Of America, the founding fathers were in general agreement that in order for democracy to work, the populace must be generally well educated. John Adams, member of congress and the second president of the US said that no expense should be spared in educating the youth of the nation, especially the poor. He felt that this was a wise and useful expenditure that no generous and humane mind should oppose. He was referring to education paid for by a strong central government for the good of the people, not for profit education sold by corporations.
It was with this kind of thinking that Thomas Jefferson, also an early member of congress, third president of the US and author of the constitution included verbiage in the preamble of the constitution stating that one of the purposes of the constitution was the promotion of the general welfare. This has historically and traditionally been interpreted to include the provision of education to the masses funded by a strong central government.
Current Laws and Institutions
While many today rail against the idea of taxes to pay for education, the fact is, those that do are against their own best interests and have already fallen prey to the ravages of for profit education. This has been made possible by a raft of laws favoring corporate power and a huge influx of corporate dollars into our government by, of and for the people. Education that is a for profit matter designed by the entities making a profit does not serve the best interests of those presumably being educated.
Charter schools, voucher schools, and other institutions set up and run by corporations teach a narrow curriculum designed to turn out workers. Essential information such as a complete and unvarnished understanding of the history of our nation, the ability to think critically and discern truth from propaganda and even the ability to read and write fluently in the English language are neglected by these institutions.
If the United States Of America is to continue to be a democracy and not a corporate run nation, it is imperative that we understand that education must be a matter controlled and provided by, of and for the people. We must wrest control of education away from corporate interests and put an end to for profit education.
