DETROIT – School choice advocates are calling out the Michigan Education Association on the union’s campaign to keep kids trapped in failing public schools.

In a series of letters to The Detroit News, proponents of cyber schools and other nongovernment education options took issue with the MEA’s assertions that children with disadvantaged backgrounds can’t learn online. Specifically, choice advocates countered arguments made against cyber schools in a recent Detroit News editorial by MEA President Steven Cook, in which the MEA boss attacked the online school K12 Inc. and the concept of school choice in general.

Stephanie Hargens, former head of the Michigan Virtual Charter Academy, explained to readers why Cook’s reasoning is illogical, and designed to promote the self-serving interests of the MEA. She explained that the majority of parents in Michigan and elsewhere want the option to choose the best school for their child, and why teachers unions are standing in the way.

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“Parents want freedom to choose what is best for their children. Yet it’s powerful special interests groups, such as the MEA, and union leaders like Steven Cook, who spend millions of dollars fighting to parent choice and education options for kids,” Hargens wrote.

“Cook alleges that cyber schools and providers like K12 ‘target’ kids. Not true. First, charter and cyber schools are public schools, and can’t discriminate against students based on academic history, race, or socioeconomic status. Cyber schools and online learning providers want to see kids in schools where they can succeed.

“Mr. Cook argues that ‘at-risk’ kids are somehow destined to fail in cyber schools. Does he believe families should be restricted from accessing certain public schools because of their life circumstances? I hope not. Educators should never pre-judge students. Our responsibility is to serve every student regardless of their station in life.”

Hargens concluded: “Choice and options in public education may be contrary to the political wishes of the MEA, but they are exactly what families in Michigan want.”

The same can be said for families across the country.

At least four other readers also sent in letters to counter Cook’s claims.

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Rena Clark, a Webberville parent of a “high risk” student, wrote in to The Detroit News about how her son has flourished since he left his traditional government school and transferred into the K12 program.

“My son has a teacher who gives him so much time. She gives him one to one online classes as well as phone support and email support. His grades have gotten better since we have been in K12,” Clark wrote. “My son was ‘high risk’ student. He needed a lot of extra support from the brick-and-mortar school that he just was not only getting. He spent more time being disciplined than learning.”

Lynn Bradley, an educator from Hell, Michigan, explained the simple reason why virtual schools are necessary, and what the media often overlooks in their coverage of school choice options.

“I am a member of the Michigan Education Association. I have worked in public schools for 15 years and virtual schools for eight. It is so frustrating when the media portrays every brick-and-mortar school as a high-performing school and conveniently forgets about the dangerous, poorly run, low-achieving schools when comparing them to cyber schools,” Bradley wrote.

“Publicly funded virtual schools are a necessary alternative for many students. The ultimate goal is student learning. Brick-and-mortar is not working for all students. Nor is virtual schooling. Isn’t it great that we have options and can figure out what works best for each individual?”

It certainly is.