Vouchers a win-win, Eyre says

Columnist's note: In three weeks, Utahns will vote on one of the most debated, polarizing issues in state history: private school tax vouchers. Realizing I had no strong feelings on the subject, I set out to explore the pros and cons so I could cast a vote that might qualify as educated. In today's column, pro-voucher advocate Richard Eyre has the floor; in Friday's column, anti-voucher proponent Pat Rusk gets equal time. In Sunday's column, I will offer my own take and how I intend to vote on Nov. 6, for what that's worth.

Richard Eyre is nothing if not a family man.

He and his wife, Linda, have not only raised nine children, they've helped raise the rest of ours. When they're not lecturing around the world about parenting they're writing books about it or talking to Oprah. When Ronald Reagan wanted directors for a national conference on families, he called Salt Lake City and asked for the Eyres. Richard also served on Reagan's national advisory panel for financing public education.

The Eyres' book, "Teaching Your Children Values," was the first parenting book to be a No. 1 best-seller since Dr. Spock in the 1950s. Their Web site, www.valuesparenting.com, has more than 100,000 subscribers worldwide.

A stronger advocate for raising kids right you could not find.

And Richard Eyre is all for private school vouchers.

Not because he has any stake in private schools. He doesn't own one, doesn't have stock in one and doesn't have a history with one. Not one of the nine Eyre kids went to a private school.

But because of the increased power vouchers will give to parents.

If vouchers become law, "The vast majority of parents will just leave their kids where they are, in the public schools, just like Linda and I did with all of our kids," says Eyre. "But when a child needs something that may not be available in the public school, vouchers give parents another option.

"Wealthy parents already have the private option," he continues. "But poorer families do not. With a $3,000 voucher, a lower-income parent becomes a customer. Even thinking about the possibility, and having the option, will make parents more involved."

To Eyre, vouchers present a rare win-win-win-win-win situation. Public schools, private schools, parents, kids, teachers — everybody wins. It's why he's asked to address the teachers' convention later this month. Presented objectively, he believes public school teachers will see the light, too.