LETTER: With public schools stressed, parents need choice options

To Ozaukee Press:

Your Jan. 15 editorial relaying the history of the Sugar Maple Outdoor School was a wonderful story of accomplishments, evolution and success. However, your added comments about charter schools versus Wisconsin’s voucher program seemed to add another whole element of discourse to the article, more like a subplot or point you wanted to make. It makes the issue divisive without filling in all the blanks.

For example: “the legislatures failure to adequately fund public schools while being increasingly generous to private voucher schools” and “private schools that get state funding through vouchers given to parents but do not have to meet state accountability standards.”

Giving more money to public schools does not guarantee better outcomes.

Accountability standards in Wisconsin were just lowered by the Department of Public Instruction. Look where Wisconsin ranks nationally. Ever wonder why?

My point is not to disparage public education. Our schools have more mental health issues today to deal with, drug and alcohol abuse, gun violence, families in crisis long term and short, split families where students often reside in two different residences, the need for schools to provide three meals a day, after school care—issues that have little to do with education standards.

The societal issues in all our schools need help. That help may look different to different parents. There is no one-stop shopping answer to this complex, multi-faceted issue.

Here in Wisconsin parents are provided with choices.

Elizabeth Brelsford

Port Washington