To the Editor:
Michael V. McGill misses the mark in his May 1 opinion essay, 鈥�We鈥檙e All to Blame for What Has Become of the U.S. Dept. of Education.鈥�
McGill conflates public education with public schools. But education can鈥攁nd increasingly does鈥攈appen anywhere. When states began to mandate education in the 1800s, travel and communication were difficult. Given those challenges, it鈥檚 understandable that states assigned kids to schools based on where they lived鈥攁nd that education and schooling were treated as synonyms.
There鈥檚 no reason for these limitations today. Recognizing that public schools are not the only鈥攐r necessarily the best鈥攚ay to educate the public opens amazing opportunities. Families should be able to choose what type of education is best for their children rather than being limited to an assigned district school.
Also, public schools have never been the 鈥渂edrock of democracy,鈥� as McGill claims. A recent found evidence that private schooling improves civic outcomes compared with public schools.
More importantly, political fights are unavoidable within public schools because they are government-run entities. From the beginning, there have been about what is taught in public schools. Unfortunately, when one side wins, another one loses.
These conflicts often result in decisions that violate some parents鈥� personal values. For example, in April, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case brought by Montgomery County, Md., parents who wanted to opt their young children out of content and instruction that conflicted with their religious beliefs, including homosexuality and the idea that children can choose to become a different gender. The district would not allow them to opt out, leading to the lawsuit.
More federal involvement won鈥檛 fix what ails education, whether you鈥檙e looking at academic or civic outcomes. Families need options, not more bureaucracy.
Colleen Hroncich
Policy Analyst
Cato Institute鈥檚 Center for Educational Freedom
Grove City, Pa.
