If nothing else, the competition from private institutions would reform a public system designed to please teachers' unions and government fat-cats, putting the emphasis back on the students. There is nothing un-American about letting the government control education instead of allowing private organizations to do so. Private institutions are able to escape the burdens of bureaucratic red tape and the stagnancy of politics. They can offer options that cater to the needs and preferences of specific communities. Although some blame public education for the ills of our society, they should not be so quick to cripple a system with the potential to heal our country.
Public schools are terrible.
The government has proven itself unable to oversee education. At least if the government cannot carry out its responsibilities, it should have the humility and common sense to let those more committed and capable take a shot. Delegating the responsibilities of education to private organizations, which often have their own religious or social agendas, is not only dangerous, it is also unconstitutional. In a country that separates church and state, it would be improper for tax dollars to be used to fund a religious education. The courts have ruled to this effect in striking down school voucher programs in Florida and Cleveland.