My left-learning, union-card carrying father will not be happy. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t read this blog, or I am sure that I would be disowned. I am planning to attend an informational meeting later this evening on school vouchers. Being raised by a liberal, it would only make sense that I carry some of those inklings of liberalism into my adult life. I have to be honest, up until a few months ago, I was fundamentally against vouchers for different reasons.
One of the major reasons is the whole “separation of church and state” thing; I have overcome the obstacle (I think) and am working my way through the next my next major barrier – equity and access. As much as I agree that the voucher system in Milwaukee creates healthy competition for the MPS schools, I do not think it is fair to only offer it to 20% of MPS student population. On the other hand, offering a viable alternative for 20% of the families is still better than offering it to none.
I am not convinced that voucher schools are the answer, but I am open-minded enough to hear the information so I can make an informed decision. We need to solve the educational crisis here in Racine, and everybody should explore all the alternatives. The residents of Greater Racine need to stop the constant bickering and begin to solve the real problems we all face.
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14 comments:
Vouchers are one of those issues that don't need to break down along party lines. Poor minorities are the primary beneficiaries of Milwaukee's voucher program. Don't liberals want to help poor minorities? Denis Navratil
After hearing the realities of what the voucher system is, I would agree with you.
I think everyone should find out for themselves what it is all about; the public perception of the voucher system is much different than it really is.
My problem with vouchers is that I currently send my kids to parochial school because I like the "Jesus stuff". Wouldn't speration of church and state issues ultimately require parochial schools to drop religious training because of accepting state money?
I understand your concern; I had similar concerns.
From what I understand this could not happen because the state is not "mandating" any one religion and the choice to go the these schools is voluntary.
"...not mandating any one religion..."
Seems to me the push is not against any one religion but religion all together
I am not certain I made myself clear, religion is only brought up because many of the voucher schools in MPS (the model) are parochial schools. The schools could have any religious affliation, or the schools can have NO religious affiliations at all.
The people of eastern Racine County
deserve more choice in educating the children most at risk.
Tuition vouchers will allow that to happen.
You were clear- perhaps I wasn't.
I believe that the danger always exsists when taking money that there are strings attached. I don't want church/state issues to arise at a later date that require "taking out the Jesus stuff". Our priorities are such that we do without a lot of extras in order to pay for the privledge to send our kids to a "Jesus school". It is worth it to us to spend our own money, not yours(vouchers) to keep it thatway.
bil: You raise an interesting concern. At this point at least, I have heard of no complaints from the voucher schools in Milwaukee regarding any efforts to remove the "Jesus stuff". It is very important to be vigilant in order to prevent the government from its natural tendency to overregulate. Denis Navratil.
Like Denis, I believe this is a currently a non-issue.
Currently, the plan in Milwaukee is successful in achieving its goal - I think that government should have as little as a role as possible. Whenever things are over-regulated by the government, the results are disasterous.
Case in point, the No Child Left Behind Act has done nothing to change education in this country.
All it has done is created a whole new (and rather expensive) bureaucracy that has done nothing for really educating our children.
I understand that this has not been a problem yet-YET being the key word.
I would think that after 10 years it would have reared its ugly head already.
What is important to remember, that the voucher system in Milwaukee is completely voluntary.
No one is forcing families to send their children to a religious school - it is simply a CHOICE.
If parents felt strongly against religion, they would simply not try to enroll their children.
I'm sorry, but you keep missing the point. Those of us in parochial schools now like it the way it is now. When the govt. comes in I fear there will then be the call to take the "Jesus stuff" out. I also am afraiad that at some point in the future, when the current parochial school people are outnumbered by the voucher people, there will be the push to drop the "Jesus stuff".
Your argument is only about money, mine is about the integrity of these schools, both now and in the future. My problem with vouchers is not so much with private schools as it is with parochial schools in particular.
"If parents felt strongly against religion, they would simply not try to enroll their children". - Isn't that you who on the JTBlog that talked about all the people you know who send their kids to parochial school not because of the "Jesus stuff" but because they were better served by them than RUSD?
If not you, I apologize. Otherwise, doesn't that kinda make my point?
"Your argument is only about money,mine is about the integrity of these schools, both now and in the future."
I guess a better way to put it is - Your argument is about the money for the "new" kids, mine is about the "old" kids (and parents and their money) that are already there.
Or isn't how they feel aboutit important too.
This is not the most effective way to communicate; I appreciate your concern that the schools that promote faith would be 'watered-down' if the government stepped in and told them that they could not partake in the 'faith' part of their schools.
Great care would be needed to make sure that something like that would never happen.
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