Reply #8: A complex subject without easy answers

[Spike89]

I appreciate the research and believe in exploring many options to improve education, including public school choice. One of the big problems judging a school's effectiveness is that the school/teacher is NOT the primary factor in a child's success--parents are. This gets magnified when choice enters the equation. Parents that highly value their child's education (and understand the process) are more likely to a) make an informed decision on which school will best suit their child b) motivate their child to succeed at the choice that they made. Finally, in areas where many parents are involved/motivated, you're more likely to have choice because they demand it.

What much of the research in education shows over and over again is that "solutions" that worked exceptionally well in school "A" generally don't work nearly as well when imposed on school "B". It isn't difficult to see why--the solution isn't nearly as important as the motivation and innovation. You simply can't impose motivation and innovation.