What about vouchers?

Those who believe government is the solution to most problems like to point out the shortcomings - as they see it - of the private sector. Yet they are absent in the clear instances when criticism of government is a must. Such is the case in Minnesota, where 32 schools have been identified as failing. How is it possible, we wonder, for government-funded and government-run schools to be failing? Isn't government supposed to be the great equalizer, the provider of all to all?

We would make the argument that if schools were private - even if they were funded by state vouchers given to parents - there might be failing schools, but not for long. The private sector has a unique characteristic that the public sector does not: creative destruction. Private sector failures end. Public sector failures continue to waste dollars and effort - and in the case of schools, harm kids - for decades.

Imagine, if you will, a massive revamping of education. The public schools are closed and private schools allowed to set up shop, existing under a state voucher system. Let's say five or six schools open in Fairmont. We imagine several would be equally good. But it wouldn't take long for parents to know which schools not to patronize. Reputation is earned, and knowledge of reputation spreads like wildfire.

Is any of this likely? Not in the near future, but the political realities of our day do not change the objective realities of what can and cannot be accomplished in public education. Citizens need to come to understand this. We offer an analogy: If you wanted to put shoes on every child in Minnesota, would you have the government set up a shoe factory? Or would you simply give parents a shoe voucher and let them choose among Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc. You see the point?

- Sentinel of Fairmont