LETTER: Every Wisconsin parent should be offered school choice option

To Ozaukee Press:

As I read your front-page article titled “School choice levy increases $460,885 to make up for loss of aid to voucher program,” I questioned why. Toward the end of the article, it noted “an enrollment increase of 32 students.” If overall enrollment is up, plus a $175 per student increase in aid is mentioned, was this levy increase actually needed?

Or was it just greed on the part of the school district because the law allowed it? If so, then why try to blame a program that gives some control to the parents about what and how their children are taught?  

It seems to me it would be more productive to provide what parents think is best for their children rather than trying to blame a program that actually puts that choice of schools where it should be—in the parents’ hands.

 I think it is sad that choice is not provided to all parents in the state to decide which school is best for the overall development of their children. And also sad that more parents and businesses in the state are not pushing for a statewide choice program. Strong competition in any industry improves that industry and its product—even, and especially, education.

Richard T. Erickson
Cedarburg