Cosby Reinforces Freedom of School Choice

Honesty and common sense, thy names are Bill Cosby. Not many celebrities who had come to Detroit for a back-to-school promotion would have answered "no" when asked flat-out if he would send his own child to a public school if he lived in Detroit ("Cosby spreads back-to-school message in Detroit neighborhood," Sept. 1). Wiggle words would have been the typical response.

Then came the common sense delivered with Cosby's wit: "I think I would look for a charter school, but I think if I hear of a great public school I would send them there. ... I've seen charter schools, and they are magnificent. The ones I've seen the children walk like this (Cosby stands upright), they talk like this (speaking clearly). They've read 46 books."

The message is clear: All parents ought to have the freedom to send their child to a good school. If it takes independent management of public schools to make that happen, that is what ought to be done.

If Detroit does move to mayoral control of public education, Bill Cosby would be an ideal mayor if he established residence in Detroit. Or a clone would do, if honesty and common sense can be cloned.

Robert Holland ,

Senior Fellow for Education Policy,

Heartland Institute, Chicago