In regards to the new High School Program, the Marine Oceanographic Academy, the St. Lucie County School District has seen fit to demonstrate prejudice against students with a Private School background. Home-Schooled children are also ineligible. This Honors Level/ Dual Enrollment Program will be taught on the grounds of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and is funded with taxpayer dollars. Private Schooled and Home-schooled students are not eligible to apply, regardless of their grades or qualifications.

There are many reasons parents choose a Private School over a Public School. These reasons include, but are not limited to: location &/or proximity to home, the availability of morning and afternoon daycare, a different method of teaching such as Montessori, religious reasons, and daily after-school tutoring. Parents of Private School children pay twice for their children's education. Our taxes support Public Schools, which our children are not attending, and we also pay tuition.

It is our choice to decide whether our children attend a Public, Private or Home-Schooled environment. Over time, our lives change, our jobs may change, our family situation may change and our children may change. These changes influence our choice of school for our children. All parents want the best for their children. To allow the School Board members to discriminate against our children is wrong.

If you are the parent of a child currently attending Private School or you are Home-Schooling your child and you are outraged that the St. Lucie County School District is discriminating against your children while using your tax dollars to fund a Public School program, I urge you to call the St. Lucie County School Board District office and express your opinion to the School Board members at 429-3600 and 429-3914.

Why should our children be discriminated against? Why should our children be excluded from applying for programs that our tax dollars are funding?

Valerie Doyle