Schools for All Athenians, but No Stipends for Assembly Attendance

Amanda (a Socratic) writes:
Hello and good afternoon to all my fellow Athenians. We are joined today to discuss some important decisions that will effect our city for centuries to come if not forever. Those issues are about our education and social welfare.

I am proposing an education system that will provide all Athenians to go to school. The schooling would give our students the knowledge about our world and help them in the pursuit of truth. Our students would also learn the ethics of what they thrive whether it be a farmer, shoemaker, a blacksmith or so on. Over a period of time we would school our students and those few that excel greatly would be sent on to specialized training. They will be trained in the fields of laws, science, economics, and psychology. They will as well go to the battle fields while fighting and assisting our current leaders to get the feel of becoming a true leader. They need to well balanced and maintained. The question that arises is that how will we pay for those schools. They will be publicly funded by the wealthy and landowners who are thriving. But fear not wealthy and landowners because yes you will have to help pay for the schooling but in the long run it would benefit Athens . Wouldn’t you rather pay for the schools and have well trained knowledge leaders then the chaos that has been happening lately? It is such a small price to pay for the educations of the youth and the future of Athens.

That being said I do not believe that all Athenians should be paid to attend the assembly. We all have a choice to come now and only paying us would increase the chaos. Yes, we would have everyone show up but at what cost. We wouldn’t get as much work done. If we pay every person to come, now that everyone can vote, then we would go bankrupt. If we are going to tax the wealthy and landowners to help pay for the schooling then we shouldn’t make them suffer anymore by making them to pay everyone to come to the assembly.

So, Athenians we need to think long and hard about the decisions coming at us. Most of us aren’t even schooled in knowing what the right way to go is. This could change if we follow this school system and put in place a way of education for the future. So, listen careful and be wise in your decisions. They are the fate of what Athens will be in the future.