Bush's Choice Education Plan and Private Schools

I am a supporter of better education. But the president's proposed $500 million choice program, offering $1,000 vouchers to students who could apply them to public, private, or religious schools will undermine our national public school system.

It will deprive the public school system of funds and of the interest of the more involved parents that will transfer their children to private schools. It will dilute the independence of private schools with government regulations.

Private education means freedom from government control. Once tax money is involved regulation will inevitably follow, or else the government will be financing a system that is free to set rules for schools independent of the community's desires. LPO Martz, Aberdeen, Md.

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