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.
apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More
In June, elementary school children across North America cheered as... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Now I know that is not how the song goes,... Read More
When was the last time you and your kids rolled... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
1. They are leaders as well as parents. They don't... Read More
Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
Prenatal intelligence, also known as fetal intelligence, has become a... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
What's hard for teenagersHaving people who don't understand you trying... Read More
Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
There has been much attention in the media of late... Read More
Sometimes dreams really can come true! May 8th - 11th,... Read More
Once your little boy/girl goes off to school, you may... Read More
Attention all parents of teen-agers. Here is an important, groundbreaking... Read More
There are times when my ideas of raising a child... Read More
Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not... Read More
If your child is to derive the benefits of physical... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
cleaning lady near Arlington Heights ..Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
There is nothing pleasant about failure, at least not at... Read More
Incest is sexual activity, ranging from fondling to intercourse, between... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
It's sometimes difficult to find ways to be involved with... Read More
Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
Self-reliance and potential are two very important values that I'd... Read More
The following spelling games can be used by parents to... Read More
Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
Although many parents become frustrated as they try to maintain... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Parenting |