Need a reason to support the abolition of public schools? Then you need to know about New York State Board of Regents Rule 19.6. It states "Direct solicitation of charitable donations from children in the public schools on school property during regular school hours shall not be permitted. The commissioner shall develop and disseminate guidelines on the interpretation of this rule."

It's a simple rule that requires teachers to teach and not solicit donations from students for charitable organizations. It might make a child feel uncomfortable. Besides, as a public entity, the school should be using time wisely and not for non-educational purposes. It's easy to agree with these ideas/. However, in order to implement the rule, the school PTO falls within this guideline. Suddenly, the school cannot work toward its own benefit.

Private schools are not subjected to such limitations. This means they can raise money for their PTOs, but more importantly they can teach community service. They can demonstrate how children can take part in something greater than themselves.

The concern, of course, is students asking part in fund-raising for things they do not wish to support. Rather than being a concern for the existance of private schools, the solution is for all schools to be private. One school could fund for Jewish causes, another for Muslim and a third for the Salvation Army. The free market - extended to schools - is all about choice.  If we are defined by what we can't do instead of what we actually did do, then we are failing.