Be Careful What You Wish For
June 28th, 2002 - 1:10 am
You want my take on the Supreme Court allowing school vouchers?
I have only two thoughts, both succinct.
First, I think it
You want my take on the Supreme Court allowing school vouchers?
I have only two thoughts, both succinct.
First, I think it
I believe you are missing a point here. Parents will get the money (voucher). Then they will choose the school.
I’m with Boris on this one. All the ruling does is apply the same principle that governs student aid for higher education to vouchers for primary and secondary school.
In fact, portability of financial aid between institutions — be they public or private; secular or non secular — is one of the reasons our system of higher education is the envy of the whole world.
I think concerns like this are overblown, especially in light of the fact that we know full well that our urban school systems are failing so miserably. Sure, the editorial page at the Wall Street Journal might be rejoicing, but plenty of parents of kids in miserable urban schools are celebrating a whole lot harded.
I disagree. Even if the voucher is given to the parents, and the parents choose the school, the strings will follow. For good or ill.
Politicians won’t be able to resist the temptation to put qualification s on what schools must do to be eligible to redeem vouchers.
After all, it’s “for the children”
Are all strings really bad? Would you want vouchers going to a madrassas? I suspect any strings attached to locally administered vouchers would be significantly more sensible than the strings the Feds like to attach to funding. As long as local districts maintain control, I think the benefits of competition outweigh the potential of corrupting influence.
I do think vouchers are a wonderful idea, and agree that it is about time – but look at the Salvation Army and all the trouble they got into. Ask them how wonderful it was to accept government money…
Of course the strings will follow and all will lead back to the Dept. of Ed mandating a simple rule for all schools accepting vouchers: You must cease being a free, private, independent educational institution and become indistinguishable from the public school system. Jefferson’s famous wall should be seen as a protection for the integrity of religion, rather than as an impediment.
Strings are bad, I see no problem with voucher money going to Islamic (or any other religious) school. If they school is creating little terrorists then shut it the hell down.
First, I agree, the decision was probably the right one, legally.
I also agree, there are going to be strings. If you consider that “voucher accepting” schools are going to have to be held up to the same standards as public schools in regards to their admissions and accomodation requirements.
In my opinion, this would be economic suicide for voucher schools that are not prepared or readily equipped for emotionally or cognitively disabled children.
The results of this ruling really open a flood gate of new questions, many of which are to be resolved or even looked at by many voucher advocates.
Strings will follow, rest assured. This is the one and only solid argument that I know of, against vouchers: To the extent that the gov’t gets involved in funding private schools, even indirectly, it will eventually ruin them.
Good advice, VP. But while strings likely will be attached, I’m hoping that there’s just enough disturbance of the status quo that it will start to break the stranglehold on education that the NEA and professional school bureaucrats have.
Strings are good. How can you play guitar without strings? Am I missing something here?
Ok, ok. Enough with the “strings attached” crap, ok?
I have just one question — what strings are attached to your tax refund? Vouchers are the tax refund for the people who do not want their children to go to public schools. That is why teachers unions are opposed to vouchers. Once vouchers become the law of the land even democratic Congress together with democratic Senate and democratic President will not be able to influence it on behalf of NEA. They will be able, though, to appoint liberals to the Supreme Court. Once the decision in question is overturned all bets are off.
I have many thoughts on the vouchers. Before my kids were in school, I wanted them desperately so I had choices. I still agree with the choices however what WILL HAPPEN is our public school system will not have funds for the kids that are left. Even with those that are able to put their chillens elsewhere, our schools never seem to have enough money for everything. There is also the accountabiity that private schools do not have at this point (one of the strings?) The children on the high end of academia will always have their choices. The children with physical disabilities and learning disabilities will never have the choices that others do. Just getting their needs met now are a challenge. The public schools must meet every child’s need. Losing funding will hurt those that do not have the same capabilities.
Reported on NPR about a week ago: Home Depot has a corporate policy against selling anything to the federal gov’t. They won’t even deliver materials or tools to federal offices or projects. Why? Because any business doing more than (IIRC) $100,000 worth of sales to the US gov’t can be considered a “contractor,” and is subject to all gov’t regulations regarding contractors. Talk about strings.
Since the voucher is not cash or a tax rebate, a school could be construed as “selling” its educational services to the gov’t. 50 students at $2000 a pop… Well, there ya go.
I love the idea of student vouchers, but I must agree with Mr. Green on this one.
All schools should be held accountable for their performance by the people who’s children attend those schools. As for the children with disabilities not having choices, that is just not the case. There are many fine private schools for the deaf, blind, and physically handicapped, and the vouchers should also apply to them. (for you fact-checkers, here is a link to a list of said schools http://privateschool.about.com/cs/schoolsneeds/)
Private schools have more accountability than Public schools because the parents can take their kids out if they are not being taught, so that argument doesn’t wash. And the reason that schools never seem to have enough money is because they waste so much of what they are given on programs that have nothing to do with reading, writing and arithmetic.
Oh, does anyone know whether the vouchers apply to home-schoolers?
Very good posts, one horrible thing left out: The Left, ACLU, American Way, etc., etc., etc., backed by the teachers unions will sue the hell out of these little schools. They will demand that PC history, Black this, Hispanic that be taught. They will further demand sex education, THEIR brand of same, abortion counselling, etc., and will parade a black “victim” of something or other before the TV cameras before launching a multi-million dollar band of lawyers at these schools.
No matter how you slice it the little private schools will be ruined if they allow themselves into this.
The Left never gives up. It ain’t about the kids, it’s about lining up at the tax dollar trough, and God help anyone who gets in line ahead of them
You’ve got the gist…take the king’s coin, dance to the king’s tune.
This is a victory for no one, and conservatives may be happy, but only until those government tendrils start a-creepin’ into every nook and cranny of private schools’ administration.
Worse, it provides the Trotskyites (read: teachers’ unions) with bitching rights, which the leftie press (most of it, that is) will surely capitalize on.
what Jack said.
the regulations follow the money.
The great thing about private schools is that they are *not* accountable to anyone but the students and parents.
I like the voucher idea in principle; but I wonder if this will result in all of the high schools and even elementaries being put in the position that so many universities and colleges are in now — the position being “You took the money, now we want to make sure you use it in an acceptable way.” Which then leads to things like cancelling the football team because not enough girls want to play. Or Latin classes beause the enrolment is insufficient. And I guess Martial and Juvenal are right out due to insufficient PC-ness.
Private school headmasters had best keep a mighty sharp eye out for that old camel’s nose under the tent flap.
Darn. Am I just recapitulating the last 3 comments? Seems to show that I’m not the only one who can see that the power follows the money.
And I suppose the drug tests will come along soon after.
“Probable cause? We don’t need no steenkin’ probable cause!”
Let me restate some points here. First, I do not think that most, but not all, public schools are not worried about losing their funding. Consider that most vouchers only “refund” a small portion of the total cost of education. It costs somewhere between 7-10 thousand to educate, probably about 3 time what the average voucher returns.
Second, although I believe that the ruling was legally correct, it is also important to consider if childless parents are afforded the same rights (i.e. no children, no requirement to pay). I think that this is a grave slope to slide down on.
Moreover, I think that the agendas of those pushing (probably too hard) for vouchers should be checked.