Columbia, SC — I object to my tax dollars being used to give tax deductions to send children to private schools and home schools (“School choice bill introduced again,” Jan. 25). This is an end run around the state constitution, which clearly says that no state funds may go to private schools. If someone wants to send their child to private school, then let them pay for it, not me.

My parents worked hard to send me to private school. They weren’t rich but made the sacrifices required. I support public education and want our legislators and educators to find solutions to improve our schools.

As a lifelong Republican, what really galls me is that it is Republicans who keep coming up with these bills. Is this not just another handout from the government? Haven’t Republicans been adamant about curtailing entitlement programs and unnecessary social programs and cutting government waste and spending? Is this not another of those wealth redistribution schemes that Republicans railed against during the political campaigns?

This bill and others like it indicate that our elected leaders have no clue how to fix the problems with our public school system or lack the backbone to do so.

Instead of wasting time trying to pass bills that don’t address the underlying problems in our schools, spend the time and money to improve them. I wonder what putting an additional $37 million (the projected cost of the proposed bill) a year into the public schools (with a plan) would do?

Thomas Wilds

Blythewood