The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

154
Chapter 27 • According to Need
“It works like this.” said the woman, pressing close to Jonathan’s
ear. “Lady Tweed gives one of her usual prepared political speeches.
The students write down all the phrases that directly contradict
what they have practised or learned in school. The one who fi nds
the most contradictions is declared the winner of the prestigious
Valedictory Trophy. Shhhh, Lady Tweed has begun. Listen.”
“...thus, we have learned about the virtues of freedom,” bellowed
Lady Tweed. “We know how free will and personal responsibility
lead to maturity and growth. There you have it and that is the
pressing situation for our fi ne community. People throughout
history have always sought liberty. How wonderful it is that we
now live on a free island ....”
The woman pointed to the students behind Lady Tweed on the
stage. “See how they are writing furiously. Oh, so many points to
rack up!”
“Did Lady Tweed contradict what the students were taught in
school?” asked Jonathan.
The woman snickered, “Free will? Nonsense. School is
compulsory. Kids are forced to attend and everyone is forced to pay
for it. Now hush!”
“ ..... and we are fortunate to have the . . . fi nest schools
imaginable, especially as we face the harsh times that are forecast
by our best economists,” said Lady Tweed in ringing tones. “Our
teachers are the model of exemplary behaviour for our students,
shining a path to democracy and prosperity with the light of truth
and knowledge ...”
The woman standing next to Jonathan grabbed his sleeve in
excitement. She squealed, “My daughter is the third student from
the right in the second row. She’s writing; she’s got all those points,
I’m sure.”
“I don’t understand,” asked Jonathan. “What points?”
“Finest schools? Impossible to compare without choice. Lady
Tweed privately sent her own children to the countryside for lessons,
but authorities assigned our kids to the nearest Council school.
Model teachers? Ha! Students must sit quietly and take orders for
twelve years. In return, they get letter grades and paper stars. If a
teacher got paper stars instead of a pay-cheque, he’d call it slavery