What's So Good About Choice?

By Frank B. Murray

Legislators and courts may be asked to pay private school tuition with tax dollars. There are several reasons to support "school choice," as this plan is sometimes called. It is not exactly "choice" that is being proposed, because since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1925, Americans have clearly had the right to send their children to public or to private schools.

Choice now refers to subsidized choice for families who cannot afford to pay private school tuition or to live in the school district of their choice. All the same, why should the public pay for private school attendance when they have already paid for public schools at about $7,000 per student?

Here are 10 reasons to support choice–some good,...