Dear Editor:
“Looking Abroad for a Few Good Teachers” by Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates (11-28-05) highlighted the challenge of teaching in inner-city schools, where student disciplinary actions consume far too many hours of a typical school day. Parents and students alike are held hostage by a public school system that provides a “one-size fits all” method of working with disruptive students.
The time has come to give public school parents the opportunity to send their child to any school they want, public or private. School choice will put parents in charge and give them “ownership” in the school selection decision. With ownership comes accountability for the behavior of their student.
School choice will make schools more accountable to parents–and choice will also make it easier to hold parents responsible for the behavior of their children.
Ralph W. Conner ([email protected]) is public affairs director for The Heartland Institute.
