The Collegian editorial of Jan. 25, "School choice does not help Pa. public schools" completely misses the mark when it comes to education. The purpose of education and state involvement therein, is not to ensure that there are public schools.

Rather, this is a means to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive an education necessary for succeeding in life. If the public schools fail to provide this opportunity, the state is under a moral obligation not to force a child to attend a failing school, which would place a great roadblock on their ability to succeed in life, but to provide an alternative. School choice provides that alternative, and it does so expeditiously. It does not wait years while we grope for a solution. School choice may not help Pennsylvania's public schools, but it will help Pennsylvania's current public school students.