Reader: School choice is the only way to bring about radical change the education system needs

Our recent post about Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin appearing at an education-reform event during the time when President Barack Obama was delivering his State of the Union speech set off a vigorous debate about fixing broken public schools. One reader wondered why we're even debating the positive attributes of...

By Michael Roberts

January 28, 2011

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Our recent post about Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin appearing at an education-reform event during the time when President Barack Obama was delivering his State of the Union speech set off a vigorous debate about fixing broken public schools. One reader wondered why we're even debating the positive attributes of school choice at this point.

Victoria writes:

I really think school choice is the only thing that will bring about the radical change that we need to see in our education system. Having more magnet schools will help as well. Although, I have to say, as a parent, I was positively FURIOUS after leaving the required meeting for our local magnet school (D'evelyn). Why? Because it is all that a school SHOULD be. It is a successful program with stringent academic standards, and it is also a public school. So why aren't the rest of the schools following suit? I just don't get it!

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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