Marie Carroll Paper #2 Fellow Citizens of Athens, I have come before you today to discuss the issues of educating our youth. Many of you shout for public education, But I ask you who would teach our children? Who will decide what they are taught? Who will pay for it? You all have a different answer; each one more vague than the last. I would like to know what is wrong with our current system of education from parents and individuals. It has stood the test of time and has not failed us yet.

I think, and I believe that many of you would agree with me when I say that parents will not want just anyone to teach their children. They will have much to say about who is teaching and what their children are learning. We have asked each of you who will teach but you have never given us a clear answer. I have taken this to mean that you do not know who will teach our youth, or you do not wish to say for fear of other factions disagreeing with your choice. When questioned about what our children will learn, you have frequently said that we will all decide, but how are we to know what each child will need to survive. Are they to be taught in general terms about the nature of things and then we hope that they are able to use this to make a living? Or should we let them learn, like they always have, from masters of their trade, where they will be given individual attention, making sure that they are absolutely the best they can be. Would you not agree that the people of Athens have long been well skilled in their respective crafts and trades? They created wondrous products that not only ensured our survival but brought glory to the name of Athens. They were taught by individuals the specific skills that they needed to help make Athens glorious. But now you wish to change this system, taking away the glory of Athens. Which is something that I cannot let come to pass under any circumstances.

Another concern of mine is how would these schools be financed? I will make an assumption, given the recent legislation that has been passed, and say that you would impose more taxes with an exemption for the impoverished. But I can hardly see how this is fair, asking a few people to pay for the education of every child in our polis when we are all struggling to support our own families. Our current system of education has never failed us in the past and I do not believe that it will fail us in the years to come.