Another indication of preference for private over public education is the parents of about 900,000 home-schooled children. They sacrifice their time and money for what they consider is a superior education for their children. Many of them fear the violence and lifestyles taught in public schools. In addition, many parents voluntarily pay for private schools and special tutoring, even though the public schools are free of charge. Aside from the efficiency arguments, this alone is proof enough of the virtues of privatization.
Citizens are the arbiters of quality in free so- cieties.
They not government should make the choices that affect their children's lives. Herbert J. Walberg 205 special interests the teachers' unions and other education lobbying groups adamantly oppose vouchers and strongly influence legislators. They have severely curtailed the number and nature of charter schools, which are, by comparison, a modest and less threatening reform. Therefore, education privatization will probably require further evi- dence. Aside from consumer preference, the best criteria are high stan- dards on achievement tests in the standard school subjects.