About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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PUBLIK EDUKATHUN

April 5th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane

What can we do?To no ones surprise who has watched the dissolving public schools 17 of the nation’s 50 largest cities have high school graduation rates below half. America now spends more per student than almost every other nation and gets less for it. America’s education deficit is forcing jobs off shore where better educated students are available – often for less money and with better work ethic – and without the punishing litigation climate.

One bright spot is when and where families can pick the schools there children attend. Charter school enrollment in the U.S. has climbed to 1.1 million from zero seeded by two tiny voucher programs in Maine and Vermont 20-years ago. Tuition tax credits, once puny and rare, are now sizable and commonplace. Plus, as public education fails home schooling has dramatically increased by parents concerned about poor results, conflicting ideologies, and increasingly dangerous campuses. School choice is clearly making a difference for the better, which justifies expanding it, not abandoning it.” - excerpted from Wall Street Journal editorial, 4/5/08 with additions.

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