| V for Victory: Now for Education. . . |
"V for Victory" — everyone has seen the hand gesture of a triumphant Winston Churchill, a proud and overbearing prime minister who led his country through the terrible overhead onslaught of the Luftwaffe then joined forces with the allies to take down Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese phalanx of the Pacific.
"V" is the same letter that will vindicate students, invigorate reforms, and vie for victory in our public schools.
Voluntary Enrollment — It makes no sense to force students to learn, to force them to attend substandard schools where they do not feel safe, let alone unstimulated.
Contrary to the fears of intellects and bureaucrats, I do not believe that people will leave the public school systems en masse. Most people have a basic understanding that an education is important! But forcing people to learn creates obstinacy in the person who is intended to benefit from the service.
I have worked in public and private schools, and students are forced and burned out. Why learn if you have to learn? Why obey if you do not want to? Are growing number of students do not even listen to their parents, so why listen to teachers or school administrators? If students are more inclined to practice a trade as opposed to sit in a classroom and fill out paperwork, then let them get started plying their skills in the workforce. There is nothing that can slow down a motivated individual who knows what he likes to do in life, yet the K-12 shuffle seems to beat out the spirit of inquiry and curiosity which is innate to all people, especially the young.
Voucher — Students, parents, and officials should be able to choose the schools where they attend and learn. It makes no sense that men and women can choose where to shop, where to live, where to by food and clothing, but when it comes to education, everyone has to settle for the local school just because someone lives in the same zipcode!
It makes no sense at all that the importance of an individual's education be left to the freak chance of geography and demographics. Why force anyone to settle for less in the name of guaranteeing equal access. "Equal access" can very well mean "equally handicapped" or "equally impoverished".
Voluntary enrollment and a voucher program: these two "V's" spell victory for students, parents, and teachers in public education.