In the debate about vouchers, charter schools and public schools, the language of parental choice is frequently used. Since president-elect Obama has young children, there is much debate about whether he should choose public or private schools for his children. Some argue that choosing a private school would contradict his commitment to public education, while others argue that being the child of a President is such an unusual circumstance that his daughters ought to be in whatever environment is most appropriate.
Parents have choice
Everyone involved in the discussion shares an assumption: Mr. and Mrs. Obama have the responsibility and authority to choose how to educate their children. However, what is missing from the discussion is that this responsibility and authority are not limited to choosing schools for their children. Their choices of what books to read, how to speak with their children, what movies they see, what television they watch, with whom they play, and many other such choices profoundly affect their children. These choices - this responsibility and authority - is common to all parents, regardless of race, class, or political power. And it is these choices that shape the education of children - whether they are home schooled, or attend public, private or parochial school.
School choice is important - and so is every other decision that parents make with regard to the education of their children. The real question is: Do parents value learning in all their choices, and not merely in their choice of schools?
