Parallels Between Health Care and Education

There is plenty of room for intelligent debate about health care reform. There are many legitimate concerns about fine details of what should be included, and what should be excluded from the bill.

What there is not room for, however, is any question that affordable health care coverage should be available to each and every individual as a right of being a citizen or legal resident of this country. That should not be a question on the table for discussion.

An interesting parallel has been drawn between public education and health care, in terms of history in the United States - and more attention should be brought to this bit of history, as it is relevant in the present tense.

In 2001, PBS noted that universal education for all citizens is considered "America's noble experiment" and is a "cornerstone for our democracy."

The story of our public education system predates the Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson both advocated for education that was free of religious affiliation, and were met with resistance by religious dogmatists of the era. Public education was "still very difficult to translate the concept to practice because of the political upheavals, vast immigration, and economic transformations. Thus, even for many more decades, there were many private schools, and charitable and religious institutions dominating the scene."

Many, if not most, people today have no idea the history of our public education system here in the United States, because education is mandatory at the primary and secondary levels. Today, it is considered a right for all citizens and legal residents. It is, very simply, expected. This seemingly obvious truth, however, was not always the case. In the early 19th century, education was readily available only to the wealthy elite, and to certain religious groups. Many, if not most people do not realize our public education can trace its origins back to the Puritans and the Congregationalist religious schools - from as far back as the 17th century.

Yet, even following the turn of the 20th century, the battle for equal education for all - meaning women and minorities, not just wealthy, white men - still waged. Times -supposedly- have changed since then? Not really. There are huge concerns about the privatization of our public education system, and recognition of the threat that is created by that. I'm not arguing the quality of our present education system - that is an entirely different discussion. Though it is valid, and one that must be addressed, it is separate from this specific topic. This topic is about the battle of a nation against something as seemingly obvious as necessary to the American people as a whole. More than two centuries passed before the idea of the need for education became a reality.

Here we are, waging a similar battle about something that will benefit our nation as a whole - each and every member of our society - and about something even more fundamental to our existence: Our health.

This battle has been waging for the better part of a century. Are we really going to wait another century before people finally realize that health care coverage should be seen as a right...overseen and protected by our government (the function of which is the protection of its people)?

References:
David Blomstrom, "Public Education Has Been Privatized." Education Revolt.
Deeptha Thattai, "A History of Public Education in the United States." ServInt free net.
PBS. "School: The Story of American Public Education."