Pluralism and Public Schooling

A significant number of Americans have fallen out of love with state-supported schooling. The causes of resentment are varied. In many cases, the issue is religion. Some religious groups have established their own schools, and their members feel the economic pinch of supporting both parochial and "public" educational systems. Roman Catholics constitute the most obvious group, but there are others: Missouri Synod Lutherans, Southern Baptist, Orthodox Jews, and a host of evangelical and reformed congregations--all of whom prefer to rear their children to respect the faiths of their fathers. However, there are also religious dissidents inside government schools.