Who has the right to decide what is good for everyone? We are all individuals with our own wants and needs, and no one has the right to make our choices for us. But with education, the government decides for taxpayers. The question is whether or not this is right. Some taxpayers do not have children to send to the government schools, and some taxpayers are already paying a great deal of money to have their kids sent to private institutions. Should these people be forced to pay for this so-called "free" education?

I am not suggesting the abolition of education, but rather the reformation of a poorly established system. We have schools that aren’t educating, and it seems to me that the incentives for good education are missing. This is true of government schools in Hawaii. There is no reward for a better school and no penalty for a bad school. Families may move from one district with an underperforming school to one with a school that is outstanding, but why should a family be forced to move in order to send their kids to a school in which they will actually learn?

The best way to improve any institution is through competition. Competition compels the institution to lower prices or to raise the quality of services. Competition would create diversity and choice between schools. A consumer could either pick a school that is average in educational standards for a discounted price, or a school with many extra-curricular activities and a reputation for producing well-performing students, for a raised price. Some schools might even be set up to offer a certain style or focus in teaching. Parents with strong religious values could send their children to schools with those values. With the availability of choice in education, parents could choose a school that suits their incomes and their children’s individual needs.

The preamble to the United States Constitution proclaims that one of the purposes of the constitution is to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…" But the Hawaiian state constitution seems to stand in the way of this objective. Article X says, "The State shall provide for the establishment, support and control of a statewide system of government schools… government funds [shall not] be appropriated for the support or benefit of any sectarian or nonsectarian private educational institution…" This appears to support special interests rather than the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Taxpayers without children of their own, who still care about the education of the next generation, have the opportunity to donate money to schools that they think are worthwhile. This money could go towards scholarships for low-income students, which would enable them to afford an expensive education. The benefactors would also be able to see where their money is going.

There already exists such an educational marketplace, and it is through private schools. They compete on price, quality, service, innovation, and serving students’ needs. Through competition, good schools and good teachers are rewarded and encouraged. Bad schools and bad teachers are pressured to change or go out of business. We have the choice through private schools, but not many people are able to afford them when they are already paying for the government school system. Many parents send their kids to government schools because they are "free." These government schools reduce the potential for competition because there is less demand for private schooling.

For all matters in life, freedom and personal responsibility are the solution. In order to learn and grow, one must be able to make his or her own decisions. Without experience in taking responsibility for one’s own actions, one may become helpless and completely dependent on others -- or even rebellious. Choice in schooling will produce more of an incentive for kids to learn and grow.

Kenli Schoolland is an 11th grader at Punahou. For the past 2 years she has taught during the summer at Liberty English Camp in Trakai, Lithuania. She is involved with PACT (Politically Active and Conscious Teens) and Young Life (a club for Christian high school students). Her hobbies are swimming and playing the piano.

A Fresh Perspective is a project of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Submit proposed articles to mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com