Cole’s idea of ‘school choice’ off base

I found the July 2 editorial by Althea Cole (“Iowa families ready, eager for Education Savings Accounts) a bit off base. What she calls "school choice " is the use of public funds for private education. There are several problems with this concept.

Conservatives say that public schools indoctrinate students to a liberal agenda but never mention the religious, conservative indoctrination of most private schools. Also, by taking funding away from public schools it disproportionately effects the neediest students, those with physical or mental disabilities or those with behavioral issues. Private schools rarely accept these children. These children tend to be the most expensive in terms of needed resources. There is a certain amount of adjustment in public funding to accommodate these needs. Private schools can simply not accept students with special needs.

The argument Ms. Cole uses regarding "rich" kids is irrelevant, we all pay for public schools and once again we all help pay for special needs students. The Legislature has failed to adequately fund schools for over a decade then disparages the declining condition of education in our state. Now their solution is to put my tax dollars into private schools and impair our public system even more. For the most part, the only citizens that support this are those that benefit directly by getting their choice at the cost to the greater public good.

Jay Stolba

Cedar Rapids