The Gaugh Family

• February 4, 2019

Father of two Glen Gaugh explains his support for school choice in a letter to the Jackson Sun:

School choice: A worthwhile opportunity

Choice is typically considered to be a good thing. Why is school choice controversial?

With middle school looming large, we were concerned about the quality of education my sixth-grader would receive. We also didn’t feel safe sending him to the middle school in our zone. As a public school graduate, I used to believe public school would meet our children’s needs. But with ludicrous curriculum (or lack of), burdensome testing, and no shared sense of decency, the concerns mounted and the options sank.

We became a homeschool family this school year, but only for our sixth-grade scholar. Our youngest son is still doing well in his public elementary school, and we are optimistic that he is making gains with his current teacher.

These are the choices every family should have the opportunity to make.

I am amazed at those who believe mainstreaming school choice through initiatives like Education Savings Accounts would destroy public schools. If you are truly concerned about student outcomes, stop diverting 50 percent of education dollars from the classroom to administration and administrative salaries. Focus on individual achievement rather than aggregate test scores. Focus on fundamentals.

School choice leads to better outcomes for individual students through higher graduation rates, lower incarceration rates, and higher employment rates. I know it makes it harder for government to measure and politicians to take credit when parents are able to do education in whatever way works best. But in the long run, individual liberty will create a stronger society.

Glen Gaugh, Jackson, TN

Video courtesy of Beacon Center

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