Port Washington School Superintendent Michael Hynes made many fine points in his article (5/1), “Changing the purposes of schooling.”
He suggested more physical activity and more coverage of civics, crafts, home economics and life skills. I do, however, disagree with his call for only 30 minutes of homework for middle school kids—I’d say at least twice that much.
But one key recommendation he didn’t mention was parental choice in education. Parents should have the right to select any state-accredited private school and receive state funding at a level 40-50 percent below that of public school students.
A 1991 study (New York Times 11/24/1001) for the New York State Senate by Ron Lauder (president of the World Jewish Congress) concluded school choice would save New York taxpayers $4 billion a year.
Today those savings would be $8 billion a year. These savings could be split between our public schools and New York taxpayers.
This would be especially helpful in these difficult high tax days. Everyone wins with school choice and the competition that results—students, parents and taxpayers!
The opponents of school choice are our teacher unions, which want to keep their monopoly and anti-religious bigots who hate the idea of parents selecting schools where kids say prayers.
But parents, especially poor parents, would be able to pick schools they want for educational quality and with moral values they want taught.
Frank J. Russo, Jr.
President
Port Washington Educational Assembly
(P.S. My wife and mother were public school teachers)
