School Choice -- Feb. 25, 2002

The question of education choice for parents and children is now before the Supreme Court. Arguments for and against the Cleveland, Ohio voucher system were heard by the Justices last Wednesday. The anti-choice crowd brought up church-state separation because some of the parents in the failing government schools have their kids in Christian schools. The pro-choice side argued in favor of the best possible education for children and the freedom to choose which school does the best job.

To force children to stay in failing schools where they don't learn is the civil rights issue of our time. Black parents want it, but the white liberal elites, lead by the teachers unions, oppose it. To them, ideological control is more important than children learning.

It is an outrage that liberals are pro-choice on abortion but anti-choice on education for those fortunate enough to be born. If the education monopoly were broken, it would be the best thing to happen in this country in a very long time. We may know the Court's decision by late spring. I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.