April 10, 2001

ODDS & TRENDS IN EDUCATION

"Competition makes banking better!" proclaims a radio ad for an internet loan company. And they're right. Competition from internet companies (and from other banks) has driven mortgage fees down, has made shopping around easier, and has led to 24-hour account access. Competition does indeed make banking better.

And I would go one step further: Competition makes everything better. Competition drives athletes to improve their skills. It drives scholars to improve their grades. It drives businesses to improve their products. It drives workers to improve their services. And it drives schools to improve education. Or it would, if the "pro-choice" advocates (who generally oppose school vouchers) were genuinely pro-choice, and gave competition a chance. This principle became abundantly clear in an article in this week's Orlando Sentinel. "School Transfer Rules Eased," it read. "Parents may request campus near their jobs." In other words, for the first time, parents will be allowed to choose which school their children will attend: the one closest to home, or the one closest to work. I have a feeling that the unemployment rate for businesses near top-quality schools is about to go to zero.

What made the Orange County School Board suddenly become responsive to the needs of parents? I believe it is because the brothers Bush are poised to begin voucher systems in both the state of Florida and the federal Department of Education. With parents about to be given a choice, the incentive to become responsive has been awakened. Competition makes schools better!

Such a novel idea -- responding to the needs and desires of the consumers -- is not so novel to me. My children attend a private school, and I have grown accustomed to an administration that listens to our concerns and accommodates our needs, even those requiring major flexibility in their normal rules. The result? My children are well-educated, well-adjusted, and extremely happy, and I feel in control of our lives. Not so with families whose children attend public schools. Yes, there are many fine teachers and administrators in the public school system, but their hands are tied by an unyielding bundle of red tape. While they may sympathize with the parent and student, they must answer to a higher authority, and that authority is inflexible.

I was particularly interested in this headline because of an experience I had this month with a high school student who attends my early-morning seminary class. Daniela had attended the high school near our home, where she had good friends, enjoyed her classes, and earned A's and B's. But when her family moved to a different home, Daniela was forced to change schools. She
wasn't even allowed to finish out the year. "Rules are rules!" she was told. Friendless, lonely, and overwhelmed by the new school's overcrowding, Daniela's grades dropped, and she began failing all her classes. I went with her to the county to ask for special concession to allow her back into her old school. I even offered to have her live with us so that she would technically live within the old school's boundaries. As Daniela told her story of loneliness and isolation, I could see sympathy lurking behind the eyes of the county counselor. But I saw a resolute adherence to rules in the set of her jaw and the pursing of her lips. No matter that a bright child was being lost in the crowd. Unless I adopted Daniela, those rules would remain rules.

Now, with this new responsiveness, Daniela can move back to her old school, because her father works nearby. At the same time, as other students also take advantage of this new ruling, conditions at her current school will improve. The initial improvement will occur right away, as overcrowding eases. But more importantly, the administration, wanting to avoid the humiliation of a student exodus, will have a strong incentive to become better. Teachers will be encouraged to use their creativity and expertise to develop a stronger and more effective curriculum. Schools may choose to become known as the performing arts specialists or the math and science specialists or the international business specialists. Before long, other parents will be seeking ways to enroll their children in that school instead.

In short, vouchers are not just for the betterment of private schools. Competition makes better public schools, too.

-- Jo Ann Skousen

email: jaskousen@mskousen.com

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