Who needs school choice anyways?
You know what I don’t get? People who try to make the argument that because generally, Virginia has some good public schools, that we don’t “need” school choice. Okay, well to me that’s like making some silly argument that because Ford makes some generally good vehicles, we don’t “need” to have any other competitors. Everyone should just be happy with their Ford and go about their business.
Really? I’m not buying.
So last night, I was talking to a mother of 2 children in elementary school. Both of her kids attend a local private school-though until about a year ago, both had been enrolled in their local public school. I was asking her about their choice- and she said that they had attended one of the best public schools in Fairfax County- and in fact she and her husband has originally picked their house specifically because of the good school district.
Then, one day in about 3rd grade, her older child came home and asked to be home schooled. As a parent, that sends up a pretty big red-flag that something isn’t working.
This family was lucky- they were able to afford to make the choice to enroll their kids in a different school- and by all accounts, the choice was a good one and the kids are thriving in their new environment. But it makes me wonder what about the countless other children who are stuck- who are suffering in silence because their parents cannot afford another option? That’s not an issue that can simply be fixed with more funding.
We’ve said it before, even a “great” school may not always be right for every child. And when it isn’t, what is a parent to do? Maybe the school isn’t challenging enough. Maybe it is too challenging. Maybe there are problems with classmates. Maybe the student needs more 1-on-1 instruction. Maybe the child just needs a different structure. Whatever the reason, if we want all children to achieve, shouldn’t we be finding more ways to help them do that?
School choice shouldn’t just be about helping change miserably failing school districts (though certainly those are some of the areas that desperately need choice the most). School choice is about recognizing children as individuals, with individual and unique needs. We can’t expect them all to fit into one mold and learn the same way. Let’s create a vibrant system of educational choices that give every child the best chance at recognizing their own potential. Let’s make sure those kids in failing districts AND those kids who are struggling in even the best schools have the choices that will give them a chance to succeed.
Make sure your voice is heard. Get involved! Talk to your lawmakers about educational options and choice. Legislators really do want to hear from their constituents- find their contact information online here. Call them; email them; let them know that you support education reforms that are focused on children first.
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