Almost half the public school graduates in California can’t read - the world is complicated.

Sweeping generalizations are usually wrong in interesting ways.

I think the stat was that more than half of public school graduates in California couldn't read at a grade 11 level. The parent comment to yours seems to be saying these kids literally can't read, and don't even know the alphabet.

Like the one you just made? https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/mar/20/tommy-tube...

Then you should be against compulsory schooling because it leaves a huge number of children worse off and violates others' liberty at the same time.

I should be against compulsory schooling because:

- my niece, an 11 year old, told me she want to be a doctor, and I knew that would be impossible unless I get her out of that situation?

- I've watched the 9 year old be physically unable to write any letters _even when having a printed alphabet in front of her_, be unable to speak the alphabet, be unable to even sing it?

- the 14 year old is on the hook for watching these kids, and is stressed and hurting, but we can do nothing?

Your throwaway comments are not helpful to people in real, hurting situations.

What state?