Susan Enzle

Parents should have the ability to pick the school in which they wish their children to be educated. Vouchers should be available so that every parent can send their children to the school of their choice. Requiring parents to have their children trapped in a school where teachers may promote ideas that violate parents definition of free speech, religion, politics or other issues is discrimination in its worst form.

I went to public schools and sent my children to private schools because I wanted their help educating my children in the philosophies with which I believe. It is unfair to those who cannot afford it to trap their children in someone else's ideas. Private schools with education standards in many places actually exceed the quality of an education in a public school system. Same for home schooling.

All public education funds belong to the children and parents. They do not belong to politicians, school boards or people who want to control what children are taught. Free education and choice are an essential element of democracy in a similar fashion to elections. The people who want to control education should have to pay more.

In the US the most expensive per student education are generally the worst academically.

There are several states and countries successfully doing 100% in-person education. I say get the politics out of education. Learn how it's done and stop claiming it can't be done - it has been done successfully.

Gary Ellis

Cedar Rapids