I found just typing the words government-mandated schools unsettling. As Americans, we have an innate aversion to the fact that nameless people can interfere with family decisions.

One of the most precious gifts that a child can receive is a quality education. It opens doors to economic opportunity, fosters better citizens and enriches a child’s life in ways that will evolve over the years. It makes you wonder why allowing parents a choice in schools is such a constant struggle.

The government takes our money to fund a public school system, then mandates that you send your children to a particular school. It doesn’t matter if that school is producing well-educated students or not. Children in poor-performing schools are at a disadvantage, but most families must accept the school that they are assigned.

The recent tug-of-war regarding the establishment of an Ascent Classical Academy was an easy decision, if we were to put our children first. It would have enabled parents to have an option for their children, not the one-size-fits-all mandate from the government. Those not in favor of the Ascent Classical Academy would not be forced to send their children there, so what’s all the resistance about?

The lack of a quality education is the nation’s greatest domestic threat. Parents have the responsibility to provide their children with the knowledge and skills necessary to become productive members of society, and a child’s education is a vital part of reaching that goal.

Jo Fusco

Durango