A Different Kind of School Choice

Pro Choice for Protection

Here's an idea I haven't heard yet addressing the fundamental goal of keeping our children safe while attending class. How about we let freedom of choice have a chance? Yes, I know that’s radical, but I’m a radical guy.

Every school, government or private, could choose how it wants to address the potential problems of violence at their school. Those who want armed guards can provide them and those who want gun free zones can have them. Those who want tall fences around their schools can have them and those who don't won't have them. Any other possible solutions could be tried as well.

Every school would post their choice and inform the parents that they have a choice to make for next school year.

It’s a kind of laboratory of ideas for the fundamental problem of keeping our children safe from attack in schools. Most politicians have that choice. Why not us? Does Sidwell Friends School, or ones like it, have any policies to keep the children safe from violence? What are those policies? What is security like at those schools?

If we had that choice, people could then decide where to enroll their kids and move them to the school of their choice. If we start now this could be ready for the start of school in the fall. Time would reveal the results and whether one solution worked better or worse than the other.

Many people claim to be “pro choice.” Schools should be part of that. Comments are welcome. Let's talk about whether this is a good idea or not.

As of right now we can still do that although the future of “misinformation” control probably means we should not wait much longer to have the conversation.