ISLAND VOICES
Statistics tell sad story of education

Richard O. Rowland is president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Gosh, is the problem of declining school output (student achievement and preparation for the "real" world) really that complicated? Here are some statistics:

• 10 percent of the U.S. population send their children to private schools.
• 29 percent of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus do so.
• 38 percent of the U.S. House Democrats do so.
• 40 percent of the U.S. Senate Democrats do so.
• 43 percent of the U.S. House Republicans do so.
• 46 percent of the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus do so.
• 52 percent of the U.S. Senate Republicans do so.

And some more statistics, these on the current school enrollments with public schools free and private schools costing extra:

• Public schools equal 88.7 percent.
• Church-affiliated private schools equal 9.6 percent.
• Secular private schools equal 1.7 percent.

Here are some questions for you:

• Who knows better the needs, wants, interests, habits and capabilities of each student — parent or teacher?
• Who is more interested and concerned about each individual student — parent or school?
• What do the "elite" in our society do about school choice?
• Why do many of these elite, including lawmakers, want to assure there is no choice available to the less affluent?

Here are a couple of pertinent recent quotes:

• "When we give parents the ability to make choices about their children's education, we give underachieving schools the incentive they need to change and improve." — John Boehner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Education Committee.
• "There is no force in the universe more powerful, as far as school change is concerned, than an informed parent with options." — Rod Paige, secretary of education.

Now answer the five questions.

Then, if you are downright angry, get in line behind me.

Sources for this article will be found in School Reform News, October 2003. See www.heartland.org, Publications.