Seriously, Folks: School Voucher Proponents Need to Get Real
“If Al Gore, George Bush, and any other politically connected family can send their kids to the best schools then the single mother living in inner-city Chicago, Boston, Philly, and anywhere else should have that same opportunity.”
Well, sure, of course, but you understand that this isn’t going to happen, even with fantasy vouchers (let alone politically realistic ones), right? The wealthy and powerful don’t want their precious angels in the same school as the kids of inner-city single moms, and (being wealthy and powerful) they’ll ensure they they aren’t. To actually make this come about, at least anytime soon, would require levels of gov’t coercion far beyond what either of us would want. That’s why supporters of traditional education continue to fight for well-funded, high-quality public schools for all children.
The actual opportunities that vouchers will provide? Well . . .
“An investigation this June [2005] by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found problems in some voucher schools that-even to those numb to educational horror stories-break one’s heart. No matter how severe one’s criticisms of the Milwaukee Public Schools, nothing is as abysmal as the conditions at some voucher schools.
Some of them had high school graduates teaching students. Some were nothing more than refurbished, cramped storefronts. Some did not have any discernable curriculum and only a few books. Some did not teach evolution or anything else that might conflict with a literal interpretation of the Bible.
At one school, teacher and students were on their way to McDonald’s. At another, lights were turned off to save money. A third used the back alley as a playground.
One school is located in an old leather factory, another in a former tire store, a third is above a vacuum cleaner shop and hair salon.
As one of the reporters said, “I think we expected from the start to see some strong schools and some weak ones. But seeing firsthand the effect that troubled schools can have on children’s futures and lives was disturbing.”“
