Story Archive

Destined for the Appeals Court

A federal judge has ruled that children don’t have a right to be taught to read and write. The right in question was asserted by a lawsuit filed on behalf of children in Detroit, Mich., because “systematic failures” by state officials denied children enough schooling to make them literate. While U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy III declared that “literacy — and the opportunity to obtain it — is of incalculable importance,” that importance, the U.S. Supreme Court has “repeatedly emphasized,” does “not necessarily make access to literacy a fundamental right.” (RC/Detroit Free Press) ...I understand the ruling, but perhaps the suit was filed on behalf on the wrong parties: they argued the students have the right, when it’s the taxpayers who pay the bills that should have the “right” to expect that their money is well spent.