Letters to the Editor
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‘The Teachers’ Vigil’
Teacher Union President Randi Weingarten discussed several key components required for effective school reform [Oped, “The Teachers’ Vigil,” November 26, 2007].
Not surprisingly, she omitted the most important of all — competition.
Giving parents, especially low and middle income parents, the right to choose any accredited school for their child is the single most critical factor needed to improve educational quality.
Parental choice in education using tax credits or vouchers set below the cost of a public school education will benefit not only parents and students, but taxpayers as well.
Everyone knows NYC Catholic schools, at less than half the cost, do a better job with the same demographics than public schools.
Education is our last unnatural monopoly. Give parents choices and everyone wins — well almost everyone.
Ineffective teachers will be more likely removed or else the schools they work in will lose students.
FRANK RUSSO
Port Washington, N.Y.
‘The Bargain of Democracy’
Democracy may be a bargain, but it doesn’t mean the cost of a presidential campaign should be an obscene $5 billion [Editorial, ‘The Bargain of Democracy,” December 3, 2007].
Not to mention the fact that the campaign season practically resumes when the previous one ends.
Your analogy of comparing campaign advertising costs to that of promoting commercial products for consumers is preposterous.
Are we supposed to select a president the same way we choose deodorants, cars, and every other consumer items by the psychological affect of an ad?
Campaign costs have gotten out of hand, debunking the myth that anybody who wants to can be president.
The only ones who can run for president nowadays are those with deep pockets or lots of free-spending supporters.
I’m all for free speech, but campaign spending has to be brought under control sooner rather than later.
NEIL FRIEDMAN
Brooklyn, N.Y.
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