Arizona Republicans appear to be locked in a contest to determine who can say the stupidest, cruelest thing about education. A few days ago I wrote about House Majority Leader John Allen, who actually said Arizona teachers work two jobs so they can “buy a boat”—not because the state has the lowest salaries in the nation, and teachers need the extra cash just to get by. Rather than address the pay problem, Rep. Allen and other GOP flunkies blame the victims.
Well, today Rep. Allen has competition. Here’s a real quote, not taking anything “out of context,” from Republican Paul Mosley, a fundy nutball who represents deep red Lake Havasu City:
“Education used to be a privilege,” he told Hank Stephenson of the Arizona Capitol Times. “People used to believe getting an education was something you had to be privileged to get, that you had to work hard to get. Now we basically force it down everybody’s throats.”
Damn, the nerve of government, “forcing” education on everyone, instead of just providing it to the privileged. Why can’t Arizona be more like Niger, where education is a privilege, where only a fraction of the population is literate. They’re not “forcing” kids into the classroom for 12 years! And look at how well an uneducated public has served their economy and quality of life.
If Rep. Mosley were in charge of education policy, he wouldn’t force anything down anyone’s throat, except his belief that the 16th century was hunky dory:
“The number one thing I would like to repeal is the law on compulsory education …,” he told Stephenson. “I believe education is still a privilege, and the kids who don’t want to be there are a larger distraction to the kids who do want to be there.”
Mind you, repealing compulsory education is his “number one thing.” It’s not just a concept he’s thought about casually—it’s his main concern, the reason he’s in office.
See, in Rep. Mosley’s warped fundamentalist universe, where 8th grade is sufficient and girls don't even need that, education is “still a privilege” to be entered into only by the right people. And these privileged types shouldn't have to put up with kids who’d rather be outside playing ball—who only create a “larger distraction” for the good people.
Those of you who don’t want to be in school, which was about 95% of my friends in 3rd grade, shouldn’t be forced to be learnin’ stuff (and you should know this when you’re eight). Why do you need algebra, chemistry, history, literature or other useless information in order to be Walmart greeters, convenience store clerks, burger flippers or good fundy wives. Or Republican voters. Nor do you need pesky critical thinking classes that might tell you how much you’re getting screwed.
Arizona Democrats regularly point out that the legislature and Gov. Ducey are trying to destroy public education. Rep. Mosley has a solution: Why bother? There aren't enough facepalms left.