One hears complaints like "giving public money to private schools" but they fail to realize that by using the voucher system the state is educating students at less than half the existing cost.

Under the voucher bill, the Utah education system is expected to retain close to $35 million to help teach students who stay in the system, helping to reduce class sizes and augmenting classroom costs. There will actually be a net gain of about $35 million each year.

How difficult is it to understand that when you allow approximately $2,500 to go out of the public school system to educate a child, we leave more than that amount in there to help educate the other kids? Actual cost of public education per student is over $6,000.

But, perhaps as important as any other reason for the voucher is that it will enable more parents to exercise real choice in choosing the education they prefer for their children.

Bill Barton

West Valley City