|
What a great country we live in. We have freedoms and choices that are unprecedented in the history of world cultures. Throughout the world we are known as, “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” Even with our problems as a country, people from other countries are investing their life savings in order to legally become an American. Others are literally risking their lives to come here illegally in hopes of having the things that many of us take for granted.
One of our most significant freedoms is our public education system, a system that offers choices for quality educational experiences and opportunities for every child. For those who do not support the idea of public education, there is the choice of private schools, parochial schools, and home schooling. Included in the public school system is “Schools of Choice,” offering the opportunity for parents to change the school they want their children to attend without having to change their residence. Charter schools, also known as public school academies, have further extended the choice of a public education without changing the family residence.
This freedom of choice was highlighted as I had the pleasure a few years back of working with a student from Russia who was attending our American schools. We had discussions about the changes that had transpired in the political and economic climate over the past few years in his country. We discussed the new freedom of choice that the Russian people were starting to have. To my surprise, he stated that people were confused and frustrated when they went to stores and had to choose from more than one brand of the same product. People saw choice as a bad thing. They had been conditioned to having decisions made for them in most aspects of their lives. It was difficult for them to deal with choices now that they had this new freedom.
We are very fortunate in this country to have so many freedoms, including the freedom of choice. Choice is something our culture values. It is part of what makes us who we are and what others want to become. I cannot imagine a USA without the freedom to choose. We must do everything we can to insure that future generations of Americans can enjoy the benefits that a free and democratic society has provided each and every one of us. A strong public education system plays a major and important role in determining this future. Wherever our children go to school, it is essential that parents and communities work with educators to see that our children will continue to have the benefits and choices that a free and democratic society provides.
Bruce Foerch is the Director of Discovery School Allegan County Public Schools - “Excelling In Education”The Education Viewpoint is a monthly column written in rotation by the Allegan County Public Schools Superintendents. This article is not the opinion of all the superintendents or of this website.
|
