SCHOOLS: Vouchers equal freedom

The National Education Association teachers’ union projects Idaho public schools will spend about $10,000 per kid in 2025. We give $5,000 to lower-income private school kids through the new voucher program and some people would have you believe it’s the end of the world. Why should public school kids get everything and private school kids get nothing? Taxpayer education funds should go where they get the best results and parents are in the best position to determine that for their kids.

Many public school teachers are great (my dad was one for 25 years), but they’re hamstrung in a dysfunctional bureaucracy where one-size-fits-all curriculum and policies are dictated by top-heavy administrations. The COVID lock-downs opened the eyes of many parents as to what is going on in our public schools. We saw political opinions presented as fact, and we saw why our nation has dropped into the bottom half of educational standings for the developed world. Public schools should welcome a little competition. Be the best and parents will beat a path to your door.

Thank you Governor Little, Senator Bjerke, Representative Mendive, Representative Wisniewski and all the other “yea” voters for passing HB 93. Finally, lower-income families have the freedom to send their kids to the schools that they determine best for them.

STEVEN PETERS

Post Falls