A Sound, Basic Education

From the John Locke Foundation:

Is marching band part of a basic public education, or is it an extra? One of the great advantages of economic thinking as an analytical tool is the use of marginal thinking. Marginal thinking means that we consider incremental changes in policy, funding, or spending, rather than all-or-nothing options. So where does marginal thinking apply in the issue of parent fees vs. public (taxpayer) funding in recent controversies over activities like marching band? It's really a problem of determining, in the absence of private costs linked to consumption of these education services, which classes and activities are basic, and therefore "inside the public funding margin," and which are really "extra," and should be paid for by user fees. Thus the current controversy over who should pay for band uniforms, trips, and competitions in Johnston and other school districts.