Anthony Bruno: Public schools must improve

Regarding the July 24 news article “School voucher program upheld”: The latest “outrage,” at least in the minds of the left, is the decision of the North Carolina Supreme Court to allow public money to be used for the expenses of private schools.

As expected, The News & Observer led the way with its July 26 editorial “No ‘victory’ in voucher ruling.” It faulted the General Assembly for damaging public education by allowing parents to send their children to schools of their choice, rather than be required to attend failing schools.

Excluded in this editorial was the reason parents are taking this extraordinary step, which does cost them extra, even with vouchers. What the editorial refuses to mention is why. Good journalism should include quotes of parents, who are the “customers,” not merely public educators who are more interested in funding than instructing.

One point made was nonpublic schools are not required to adhere to the same mandates and standards. Perhaps this is more a blessing than a concern. Maybe it’s the bureaucratic intrusion on pure instruction that has made public education fail in so many communities.

When public schools in North Carolina improve, the exodus will end. It’s as simple as ABC!

This story was originally published August 1, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Anthony Bruno: Public schools must improve."