Video: School Choice, A Good Thing Or Not?

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SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – This week marks National School Choice Week.

Thousands of events are scheduled throughout the country to shine a light on school choice. For many, it’s a controversial topic that generates different opinions.

School Choice means that parents and students will have the right to choose what school they attend, no matter the location.

Chad O’Brien is the principal at Smithville High School.

He has been in education for more than 10 years.

He says school choice is a good thing, if it is done the right way.

“I’m all about school choice and I’m all about kids having schools that meet their needs. But let’s not short change the public schools in effort to just open more private schools,” said O’Brien.

Some who question school choice say it could hurt the smaller schools if students choose to leave them.

O’Brien says schools that are performing well, no matter the size, shouldn’t be left behind.

“Every school should be under the pressure to be successful, we have to meet students needs and if their not, then obviously there outta be choices, but what I’m seeing from the public school stand point, there is a change in the accountability model to make it appear maybe some of the schools are not being successful when maybe for a really long time they have been,” said O’Brien.

Many state leaders support school choice.

“Parents outta have the right to do is to take their hard earned tax dollar and their child and send them to a school of their choice. We outta be competiting for students so the best schools can win, so they’ll all be better,” said Governor Phil Bryant.

Governor Phil Bryant says it’s all about getting the best education for Mississippi students.

“Competition makes a better product and our product needs to be a great education,” added Governor Bryant.
27 governors have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their states, including Governor Phil Bryant.