ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas -- Gov. George W. Bush wants vouchers for Texas parents who prefer private to public schools.

Nowadays it seems that whatever George W. Bush wants, he gets. From what I read, if and when he decides he wants to be president, he'll get elected.

Maybe then he'll want school vouchers nationwide.

Deregulation of public education: Is that what we're talking about? If so, hold the phone.

I happen to have an opinion about public education. My opinion is that no other institution has contributed more to democracy in America.

And now we're going to whittle it down into a bunch of splinter groups?

People who want their kids to go to private or church schools, or who want to school them at home, think they ought to be able to spend their tax money for education the way they please. After all, it's their kids.

That sort of argument may sound like it makes sense. The truth is, it's talking silly.

You might as well argue that people whose kids are out of school, or childless people shouldn't have to pay school taxes -- that government should give back their money so they can spend it as best benefits them.

But that's not the issue -- what's best for you or what's best for me. Rather, it's what's best for America.

Every citizen has an investment in public education. Our nation's children represent our future. As they succeed, we all succeed. It's not by luck that America enjoys the most advanced technology and the healthiest economy.

You like the idea of school vouchers? Then why not this:

Why not park vouchers for parents who'd rather take their children to Disneyland instead of public parks?

Why not road vouchers for motorists who prefer toll roads to the public highway system?

Why not water vouchers for those of us who drink bottled water instead of city water?

Why not zoo vouchers for animal lovers who enjoy their own personal menagerie over the public zoo? (With eight dogs and two cats, personally I could use the money.)

Why not protection vouchers for private police and firemen who would come to the aid of only those who subscribe to their services?

And why not, while we're at it, arms vouchers for militia groups who don't trust the U.S. military to defend the nation?

Why not, indeed? Because it's silly, that's why.

But the proposals for school vouchers aren't silly. Such ideas, proposed by such leaders as Mr. Bush, are very serious -- a very serious threat to our public education system.

You want to home-school your children? Fine.

You want to send your children to private schools? Fine.

But not at the expense of our public schools.

Joe Murray, editor-publisher emeritus of the Lufkin (Texas) Daily News, is a senior writer for Cox Newspapers. His e-mail address: jmurray@lcc.net.

Pub Date: 3/10/99