Published the week of 11/28/04

Should families who want to give their youngsters "a leg up in life" choose private or parochial schools? That's what Jeff D. Opdyke, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, wrote last week. I vigorously disagree.

While improvements are needed, there are marvelous public schools: district, statewide and charter. This is not a column attacking private or parochial schools. But it really bothers me when people insist an excellent education is available only in private or parochial schools. That is flat out wrong.

Opdyke says that "a big part of the rationale behind my family's decision" to send children to a parochial school is the advantage he thinks this gives his youngsters.

Many public schools create a culture where academic achievement is encouraged and honored. Year after year, lists of National Merit Scholarships and other academic award programs have many students from public schools.

Moreover, all three of Minnesota's regional finalists in the recently concluded Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology, are from public schools. This contest has been called "one of nation's premier science contests for high school students." Minnesota's finalists came from the Perpich Center for Arts, a statewide public school for 11th and 12th graders, and the Agricultural and Food Science Academy (a charter public school).

My experience is that our children benefited, academically and socially, from attending, kindergarten through twelfth grade, public schools with high expectations, many fine teachers, multiple opportunities for family involvement and students from a variety of backgrounds.

All three of our three children, and friends of many children, have graduated from public schools. They have taken rigorous courses that prepared them to do well in excellent colleges and universities such as Carleton, Grinnell, University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota Our youngsters attended Highland Park in St. Paul. This school has a strong, active National Honor Society, and offers International Baccalaureate and College in the Schools courses. The same thing can be said of many public schools.

Are they perfect? No. Can/should improvements be made? Yes.

But in this season of Thanksgiving and good will, let's be clear. While public schools - district, state and charter - can be better, it is vital to speak honestly about their successes, as well as their shortcomings.

Despite Opdyke's advice, there is considerable evidence that public schools can offer among the finest educations available.