School Vouchers: For and Against

The article on the new private school opening in Newport Beach (“2 Schools: New and Very Different,” Sept. 6) was enlightening. It appears to be a very nice modern campus funded by private support. This is the kind of school to which voucher proponents compare public schools in an unfavorable light.

I was interested to note that the tuition to this new school is $14,000 a year, which is economical compared to nearby private schools charging $16,000 to $18,000 per year. What voucher pushers never admit is that since public schools are getting an average of approximately $8,200 a year, it is hardly surprising they do not compare well to these private schools. I also question how many lower-income people will be able to attend such an “inexpensive” private school with a $4,000 voucher.

LEE AYDELOTTE

Huntington Beach

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I’m surprised that The Times opposes vouchers, since your own headlines--on the good side, “Voucher Study Finds Gain for Black Students” (Aug. 28) but on the bad side “SAT Gap for Latinos and Blacks Grows” (Aug. 30)--certainly suggest that a well designed voucher program will help minority students catch up.

And public schools won’t be destroyed by a voucher program. Rather, the public schools will improve in response to competition, just as U.S. auto makers improved their product in response to competition from Japanese auto makers (after first crying that they would be destroyed by this competition), and just as the Postal Service improved service in response to competition from UPS and FedEx (after first crying that it would be destroyed by competition).

By the way, I believe that my own experience qualifies me to make these assertions. My wife and I have taught in the public system for more than 25 years each.

ROD FREED

Mission Viejo