ED REFORM: Let's follow Hoosier lead

Recently, Idaho lawmakers passed legislation to empower parents and children to improve Idaho's educational system. The state of Indiana has just enacted legislation which finally will break the "hold" teachers unions have had on the nation's educational system for far too long. Idaho should now move forward with similar reforms.

Under Indiana's new law, the state will now provide thousands of publicly financed scholarships of up to $4,500 a year to Indiana elementary school kids who have been enrolled in public schools for the previous two semesters and now want to attend another school, either public or private. Within three years of implementation, Indiana will make this program available to all Indiana children including high school. Parents can take the money to any certified school in the state, including religious schools.

It is assumed this new law will withstand all teacher union assaults, and they expect several, because the law is religiously neutral and parents of these children make the choice for their children.

Finally, at least in Indiana, measures are now being put in place to restore sanity to a failed public education system. Idaho should follow Indiana's directions and the sooner the better. Parents already know their children get only one chance in life for a good education and the families living in Idaho are certainly as deserving as those families in Indiana.

I urge all parents wanting more control in offering their children a better education to contact Idaho state legislatures asking them to follow Indiana's path to a better tomorrow for all our children's education.

STANLEY KWAKE

Bayview