As Mr. Buckley rephrases the title question, "I'd like to begin by asking you whether the abolition of the public schools is in effect something of a laboratory discussion or whether you think it likely to emerge as a genuine public issue." The latter, replies Professor van den Haag; "However, Bill, I wouldn't call it abolition." Instead, what he is advocating--and he was one of the first to do so--is vouchers, permitting parents to exercise a choice of schools. This would eventually become a staple of national discussion, but Professor van den Haag was admirably prescient, as well as informative on the question of what was wrong with the public schools.