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Date Published: September 11, 2007
Run Time: 00:28:30
The Libertarian Alternative presents:
History of Government Schools 
Mark Selzer interviews Pam Probst, Libertarian Educator and Homeschool Mom
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Mark's guest, Pam Probst dispels urban legends and provides a fascinating history of education in this country as it really happened, as opposed to the version typically provided public school advocates. Among other things, she provides convincing evidence that literacy in America was actually far greater than it is today, and that public schools, rather than increasing literacy, actually led to its decline.
One of the more interesting points Probst makes is that there was a tremendous number of publications in print in the early years of the American Republic. For instance, Thomas Paine's historically famous pamphlet, "Common Sense," was printed to about a million and a half copies. As Ms. Probst points out, "Someone was reading all those copies!"
She also gives a description of how public schools, with the support of major charitable organizations backed by major corporate non-profit trusts of the 19th and early 20th century, succeeded through a combination of propaganda and the appeal of "free" education to wrest control of education from parents and to put it into the hands of the government.
This is a must-see video for anyone who has any interest at all in education.
Mark Selzer is a long-time host of "The Libertarian Alternative," the long-time-running public access TV show in California which has graciously agreed to share their videos with us. In return, they have asked that we provide a link to the Libertarian Party website for those of our viewers who might be interested in joining the party.
If you'd like to see this show on your local cable access program, please call Mark Selzer at 1-323-633-6275 or visit his website at www.libertarianalternative.org.