First of all, it is courteous to take the CAPS LOCK off when you type. Secondly, as a conservative, I am insulted by your assertion that I have a favorite welfare entitlement - I do not. American conservatives oppose mandatory public anything, including education. Apparently you have some superior philosophy which allows you to look down your nose at conservatism; perhaps you should enlighten us as to what that might be.
First, I meant to leave the caps on. If you don’t like it DON’T READ IT.
Second, perhaps you haven’t noticed that your views about conservatism aren’t widely shared by people who call themselves conservatives. Even here on FR there are many who defend various mandatory elements of the welfare state. In particular, with respect to education, there are many on FR who rail against single-payer health care and yet are ready to defend our single payer model of government education.
I don’t disagree with your principle of opposing mandatory government anything, as you put it, but you might reconsider whether that principle is as widely shared by self-identified conservatives as you think.