Decades ago, the railroad industry almost went under. The main reason for this was that the railroad industry thought they were in the railroad business, as opposed to the transportation business. With that mindset, they refused to cooperate with the trucking industry, and pretty much anyone else. But once they realized they were in the transportation business, they embraced the different facets of transportation, and today have a booming industry.

I believe there are those in the State Board of Education, as well as the UEA, who have forgotten that they are in the education business, not the public school industry. They have failed to realize that a public school system cannot possibly address every educational situation or need in a population as large as Utah's -- especially in the Wasatch corridor. If they are honest, they will admit a "public school" setting will not do all things.

I believe the struggle we are witnessing is not about education, but rather the control of education. I find it notable that the largest cry against vouchers is coming from union leaders. Even unions from other states feel they have a stake in the outcome of this issue. I know many good rank-and-file teachers who do not feel threatened by private schools, or by public taxes being used to expand education in the private school sector -- and neither do I.

Within the educational system there are public schools, public-charter schools, private schools and home schooling. All of them are needed, and each of them has their place. No one can say with integrity that our public school system is able to address the needs of all children. Therefore, the public and the State Board of Education need to make certain that the other components of an overall educational system are embraced and facilitated. That will entail some degree of funding.

I fear that if the union leaders do not see the need to embrace and make use of all facets of a comprehensive educational system that they will ultimately harm the education system that is growing in Utah. Education is not about control. It is about providing valid avenues of education for all children.

Jon McCartney is the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Tooele and a frequent contributor to the Transcript-Bulletin.