From now until Nov. 6, the Daily Herald will focus regularly on Referendum 1, the voucher initiative that would help parents pay for private school. In this space, we will explore the issues and give our opinions.

Today the people of Utah County have a chance to learn by listening to any of three debates scheduled on Referendum 1, the school voucher proposal.

The essence of the proposal is to empower parents and students. If enough Utahns vote "yes," scholarships of up to $3,000 will be available to send students to the schools they choose.

Anti-voucher groups argue that 96 percent of students in the state attend public schools. So why bother with vouchersfi they ask. With a number like that, the public seems content with the way things are.

But is that sofi We don't think so. It more a reflection of the fact that few alternatives to the public school system currently exist.

We agree with the Legislature that vouchers will improve the overall quality of education of Utah's children. When more than 25 percent of high school seniors in Utah public schools fail a basic academic competency test, it seems fair to ask whether the public system is failing. With a number like that, it's hard to defend it as a roaring success.

A quarter of students tested failed at least one of the three parts of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, whose results were released earlier this year. State law requires students to pass all three basic skills sections, and they get up to five attempts, starting as sophomores. Of 36,545 seniors enrolled last October, 22.4 percent failed math, 20 percent failed writing and 15.8 percent failed reading. That's a shabby showing.

Vouchers are one way to address the problem. We hope many voters will take advantage of opportunities to learn more by attending discussions and debates in the coming weeks.

Today in Utah County three debates will look at this crucial issue. The schedule:

10 a.m. today: Women's Legislative Council of Utah County, Provo City Library in Room 201, 550 N. University Ave. Legislators will respond to questions from the group.

Noon today: Women in Leadership, Provo City Library in Room 309. Marilyn Kofford, former Alpine School District board member and state PTA education commissioner, and state Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, will participate in a pro-con discussion of vouchers. Lunch will be available for $7.

7 p.m. today: Spanish Fork voucher debate, High Chaparral Building at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, 475 S. Main St. State Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville; state Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain; Nebo School District board member Debbie Swenson; and state Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, will participate. SFCN will tape the debate and broadcast it on Spanish Fork Channel 17.

One moral aspect of vouchers, in our view, is that they put parents in charge. We believe that parents are the best judges of whether their children are thriving in a given school environment. And most are content with public schools.

But if Referendum 1 passes, people who are not so happy will have another choice.

And what's wrong with thatfi

Think of your public library. It's a great resource for books or DVDs. But aren't you glad there are bookstores and other retailers selling books and DVDsfi

Now imagine that the librarians union (remember, this is only hypothetical) launched a drive to prevent bookstores from being built in your town. They run ads on TV saying that bookstores drain vital resources from the library, and you don't really need any more places get books.

That's what the voucher debate boils down to -- a debate over choice, over who controls your children. With vouchers the power goes to parents where it belongs.

Today's dynamic and sometimes unsettling world demands that everyone take charge of their own lives. And parents have an obligation to see that their children achieve their highest potential. Good enough, as offered by the public school system, is too often not good enough.

We urge our readers to attend one of today's debates. Even if you're happy with your public school, maybe you'll learn something that will one day help solve Utah's education crisis.

Do you agree?