Vouchers, which give tax money to parents to pay for tuition in private schools, sound good in theory. The problem is that voucher programs are few and very far between. The Supreme Court declared vouchers constitutional in 2002, but currently only thirteen cities or states have created voucher or education tax credit programs.
Some of these voucher programs are tax credit programs, whether personal or corporate, and cover only a fraction of tuition costs. The voucher programs have various restrictions that limit their benefits to a relatively small number of children (such as the Florida programs that are limited to disabled students or to schools that get an 'F' grade). Also, many of these programs pay only part of the tuition costs. In the 'tuitioning' programs in Maine and Vermont, most eligible kids simply transfer to public schools in other towns. In effect, these programs barely scratch the surface -they only help a tiny fraction of the approximately 45 million school children who now suffer through public-school education.
Also, the education establishment, teacher unions, and most state and federal legislators in the Democratic party are against vouchers. Teacher unions fight voucher initiatives tooth and nail with lawsuits. When the unions take state voucher plans to court, these lawsuits can drag on for years. The voucher fight is going to be a long, bitter, ongoing legal battle between parents, states, and the teacher unions.
Also, most states today are running huge budget deficits. As a result, states are cutting back on programs already on their books, so they can hardly afford expensive new voucher programs. California had close to a $13 billion budget deficit (which they "closed" by the typical near-sighted trick of borrowing the money with new state bonds), Texas a $10 billion deficit, and New York about an $8 billion deficit.15 (these deficit numbers keep fluctuating, depending on which politician is citing which new study, but the deficits are huge).
With state governments burdened by multi-billion-dollar deficits, what is the chance that you will see a voucher program in your neighbor-hood any time soon? It might not be wise for you to wait around for such a voucher miracle.
Another problem is that even if vouchers were more widespread, private religious and secular schools simply do not have the room for all the students who would like to transfer out of public schools, either with state vouchers or private scholarships. According to Nora Murphy, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New York, private Catholic schools in New York could accommodate only 3000 new students. Yet, in September, 2002, 240,000 New York students in failing public schools qualified to transfer to a "better" public school under the "No Child Left Behind Act." If all these students' parents instead wanted vouchers for private schools (if such a voucher program existed), you see the problem.
For all the above reasons, parents who want to give their children a decent education now, cannot and should not depend on vouchers coming to their local neighborhood anytime soon. Parents, don't wait around for another fifty years while voucher advocates fight drawn-out lawsuits and fierce opposition by teacher unions, public-school bureaucrats, and the entrenched education establishment.
Don't pin your hopes on state governments with huge budget deficits to create vouchers for every child in your state. Don't risk your children's future on state and local politicians who get campaign con-tributions from teacher unions and consistently vote against voucher programs. Depending on government authorities to come to your rescue is an exercise in futility.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst, and author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Contact Information: Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Phone: 718-447-7348. Article Copyrighted ? 2005 by Joel Turtel. NOTE: You may post this Article on another website only if you set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtel's email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com.
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
At the ADHD Information Library we are big believers that... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
When it comes to exams, or indeed any academic work,... Read More
Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More
In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
Hope, excitement and anxiety all wrapped up in fresh haircuts... Read More
What you say and do about money has a profound... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
Some children practically potty train themselves, while others struggle and... Read More
As the flurry of Back to School activities subside, parents... Read More
Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More
One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my... Read More
Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More
O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison... Read More
Is there anything wrong with lying, cheating, stealing, shop-lifting, taking... Read More
As mothers, we play so many different roles and most... Read More
We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit how... Read More
For over fifty years, public-school officials and politicians have tried... Read More
The main thing we noticed since having a baby is... Read More
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
Child Safety Restraints and children in work vehiclesIf you take... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
A study done by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found... Read More
It was a hot summer day in august and The... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
Parenting |