Should Parents Be Allowed to Choose Their Children's School?

A few years ago parents were excited to hear that there was a program being talked about which in essence would give parents the right to choose which school their children would attend. This was known as the "School Voucher Program," and was very much anticipated by low income and minority parents. The main reason for the excitement was due to a perception that inner city schools are under funded and the Voucher Program would allow parents the ability to move their children into schools with more resources and better test results.

However, there is even more to consider than just funding. Most people have a particular belief system and any deviation is not acceptable to them. However, due to strict government control of education it is nearly impossible for parents to find a curriculum which is agreeable to their own values and beliefs.

Earlier in the history of this country's education system, the communities would build a schoolhouse and hire a teacher to instruct their children in the basics of education. For the most part, this worked very well and parents had much more control over what their children would be taught. Then the time came when the government took control of the education system and began to dictate what was to be taught and how.

Eventually, the government controlled schools began moving away from more traditional instruction and started moving into the realm of social engineering. Reading writing and arithmetic were replaced by sex, political correctness, and indoctrination. Not everybody shares the same belief system and some beliefs are fundamental. However, the state has seized control away from parents and in essence is really raising our children.