In the last volume of Harry Potter, one of the first things Lord Voldemort did after seizing power over the Ministry of Magic was to ban home schooling and parental choice and require attendance at Hogwarts,the government school for witchcraft and wizardry. Here is the relevant passage (p. 210):
"'What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?' she [Hermione] asked Lupin. 'Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard,' he replied. 'That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age.'"
Query: would Voldemort vote with the majority or the dissent in Pierce v. Society of Sisters? Do you see how a government monopoly over the education of children is at least a potential threat to fundamental liberties of thought, belief, family, and faith? This is a nice illustration of the point JS Mill made in On Liberty.
"'What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?' she [Hermione] asked Lupin. 'Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard,' he replied. 'That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age.'"
Query: would Voldemort vote with the majority or the dissent in Pierce v. Society of Sisters? Do you see how a government monopoly over the education of children is at least a potential threat to fundamental liberties of thought, belief, family, and faith? This is a nice illustration of the point JS Mill made in On Liberty.
By the way, for another post from my Property Class blog concerning Harry Potter see this link.
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