Voucher bills back with a vengeance as GOP-controlled legislatures look to save on education

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Voucher bills back with a vengeance as GOP-controlled legislatures look to save on education
By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, August 2, 2:11 AM

ATLANTA — More states than ever before have considered school vouchers this year, driven by resurgent Republicans who see the current economy as an opportunity for a fresh push on one of their most contentious education policies.

As of mid-July, at least 30 states had introduced bills that would use taxpayer dollars to send children to private schools, most limited to poor or special needs children, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That’s compared with nine voucher bills in 2010, just one of which passed — a special needs voucher program in Oklahoma.

And 28 states this year have eyed giving tax breaks to those paying private school tuition bills, which some consider a back-door voucher program.

At least six states have passed voucher legislation this year.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/voucher-bills-back-with-a-vengeance-as-gop-controlled-legislatures-look-to-save-on-education/2011/08/02/gIQA7YVzoI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

[bluestateguy]

1. I am a big supporter of private schools---without tax dollars

And anybody who really wants to put their child in a private school I'm sure will be resourceful enough to find a way to make it happen.

Private scholarships, your kids' grandparents or investing your money wisely are all good options. It is not the taxpayers responsibility to pay for your kids to attend a prep school or a Catholic school or a Christian school.

[secondwind]

2. I'm convinced the Christian Evangelical movement is behind this. They want to

indoctrinate America's children. Take a look at the "American Federation for Children"........ look at who is behind this, and check them out, particularly BetsyDevos and John Kirtler (epitome of BIG BUSINESS)

[Kolesar]

3. It is an extension of the creationism and prayer in school reaction

[HockeyMom]

4. Plus your kid is going to have to meet their standards

BEFORE they are admitted. Both prep and catholic schools have admission tests they have to take. If they don't keep up their grades, they can be expelled. I really don't know why these voucher people never talk about this.

My husband went to a catholic elementary school. He was a C student and applied to 4 catholic high schools. He was not accepted at any of them. I guess he didn't do well on his Co-ops (test they use). He went to public HS.

[bluestateguy]

7. Kids who don't measure up are often "counseled out" of the school

Basically they are encouraged to leave, and if they still can't take the hint, a blockage is placed their registration and then they are told, not asked, to leave.

[toopers]

8. Vouchers are not just for private schools . . .

The voucher programs would also allow you to send your kid, and the associated tax money, to other public schools that are doing a better job of teaching the kids. This gives people in communities with failing public schools the opportunity to get into the better school systems.

[Steerpike]

12. soooo

How does a kid get to school when may be miles away?

[Doctor_J]

16. Or what does a parent do with a $4000 voucher when tuition is $20,000?

The pro-voucher crowd is just repeating propaganda they heard on hate Radio and Fox "News"

[tomg]

10. I also support private schools

Without tax dollars. Three of my kids went to public schools, one private (Quaker). The first three just before and as No Child Left a Mind was coming in. The fourth who is younger by 10 years as a result of NCLM went to a private. That was our choice. No vouchers for private schools. Incidentally, my wife is a public school teacher and a union rep. That we made that decision was very hard, not from the economic (although it was) but from the moral. In some ways, we felt like we were quitting on the country in the interests of our son. But please don't ask others to subsidize our choice.

[cstanleytech]

5. I know this isnt going to be popular but there imo isnt anything wrong with vouchers

If parents are paying their taxes then it should be a choice if they want to use some of the tax money they paid to the government to send their child to a private school instead regardless of if its even a religious one and no, I dont attend any church nor do I practice any religion.
If the goal here is to want people to choose public schools over using a voucher then look at ways to improve the schools and make them better at educating children rather than blasting vouchers and the parents who choose to use the vouchers.

[Thor_MN]

9. It's not that it's unpopular, it's that it's totally wrong.

People don't pay taxes for their children to go to school. They pay taxes for ALL children to go to school. I willingly pay taxes for all children to go school even though I do not have any children. I want my future doctors, fire fightes, police officers, politicians, etc, to be educated. I do not want their education based on mythology. I want their educators to be held responsible to the state school systems.

If parents want their child to attend a private school, fine. But they need to do it on their own dime. The tax money is for all children. If they get to choose what to do with "some of the money", I want the money that I have paid back, so I can donate it directly to my local schools.

[cstanleytech]

13. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.

[Thor_MN]

14. I certainly am entitled to an opinion. Mine is based on facts. Your opinion contained a fallacy.

Public monies for education are not paid by parents for their children. They are paid by all people for all children. Individuals do not have a choice to get their money back for their children to spend as they choose. I have no children, I have no right to get the money I paid to do as I choose with, why should parents?

[cstanleytech]

17. Im not a parent either nor do I plan to be and I still I dont have a problem with it.

[Hugin]

18. I'm fine with it as long as I get a voucher to send my kid to the Church of my choice, too.

Oh, by the way... I'm a strong believer in Home-Churching.

[Doctor_J]

6. WaPo is becoming a right-wing propaganda outlet

Check out that headline

GOP-controlled legislatures look to save on education

LIE!!!

They look to kill public education

[PSPS]

11. "Save" on education? The headline should say "profit on education."

[Doctor_J]

15. Vouchers are besically subsidies for the rich

In many cases the vouchers are on the order of $4000, where the tuition is $20,000. So they're useless to poor families, but give a nice buy-off to the families who COULD afford the 20K, but prefer to use tax money. Also, "school choice" is only useful if you can afford to transport your child to a school miles away.

We need to at least tell the truth - that

1. billionaires such as the Bush Crime Family see the US schools as another profit opportunity,
2. They care not a tinker's damn about educating American children,
3. As with every other issue, Big Media is running their propaganda and pawning it off as news.

[Hugin]

19. Yup, for everyone else it's like giving a "2-4-1" coupon to someone who can't afford the first 1.

"2-4-1" coupons, keeping the riff-raff out since 1621.