Ethan Allen Institute and Public Assets Institute to Hold Second Education Debate in Manchester

Manchester, VT—The Ethan Allen Institute (EAI) and the Public Assets Institute (PAI) are facing off this winter in three debates around the state on the proper role of government in education. The second debate in this series, moderated by Andrew McKeever, editor of the Manchester Journal, will take place on Tuesday, January 14 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Park House Activity Room in Dana Thompson Park, 340 Recreation Park Rd in Manchester Center.

The majority of Vermont communities operate public schools. However, in 93 towns—a little more than a third—residents have chosen not to operate their own schools but instead pay tuition to allow students to go to any school of their choosing—private or public. “School choice” advocates see this 150-year-old practice of allowing communities to tuition their students as a model for the country. Supporters of the public education system maintain that local schools provide the foundation to our communities and our democracy.

These points of view will be debated by representatives of two of Vermont’s leading think tanks. Ethan Allen Institute president Rob Roper and Daren Houck, Headmaster of the Mountain School at Winhall will argue the case for to the publicly funded independent school model for providing education. Public Assets Institute president Paul Cillo and Bill Mathis of the National Education Policy Center will make the case for the public school system.

The first debate in this series was at Lyndon State College on December 13. The final debate will be in February in Montpelier. Details to be forthcoming. These debates, made possible by a generous grant from the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, are free and open to the public.

Contacts:
Rob Roper for Ethan Allen Institute
802-999-8145, rob@ethanallen.org

Paul Cillo for Public Assets Institute
802-223-6677, paul@publicassets.org

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