By Diane Wheeler
Reader Contributor

More than 30 years ago, the National Advocacy of Private Education produced a white paper on “school choice” that circulated across the nation. Despite the rhetoric of the school choice promoters, the detailed findings in the white paper revealed that: 

• Government subsidies to private schools increased the cost of private education; 

• Government subsidies to private schools compromised both the freedom and independence of those private schools; 

• Government subsidies to private schools increased taxes for the general public. 

In a nutshell, government subsidies increased taxes and enlarged government. 

Proponents of “school choice” argued that their proposals had carefully crafted language that precluded governmental interference. But what they failed to mention was that subsequent legislation could redefine the terms of the protections that were put in place, plus courts and judges could interpret language any way they wanted. 

Proponents argued that parents should be able to use their “own” tax dollars for the type of education they desired. “Money follows the student” was their mantra. This argument was emotionally appealing, but it had no basis in fact. Once tax money is collected, it no longer belongs to the individual taxpayer, but to the governmental machine. 

This raises a legitimate question of principle: Should private institutions receiving public monies avoid public accountability? The principle of public accountability is either valid or it is not. One cannot pick and choose where the principle is to be applied. 

The bottom line is that regulations follow the student, when tax dollars follow the student. The better way to achieve educational choice is through a substantial increase in the Dependent Tax Exemption. This way families can retain more of their own hard-earned income to spend on their children as they see fit. 

Why would anyone want to jump up on the hamster wheel of government, called “school choice”? 

Certainly, there are many things wrong with the state of public education and its funding; however, change must not be equated with improvement. The passage of any school choice measure, including tax credits, will mean that private schools in Idaho will become just another form of public education.

Diane Wheeler has been a private school advocate for the past 40 years. She teaches a class entitled “Liberty and Law.”