3. LEARN THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST SCHOOL VOUCHERS
"The public school voucher program will drain money from the
schools that need it most."
The Argument: Even the most ambitious and daring voucher programs, like those proposed in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Florida, don't come close to offering vouchers for everyone. Instead, they are designed to give vouchers to some students at the worst schools. A common misconception is that, armed with a voucher, parents could enroll their children at any school - public or private. In truth, several obstacles would still prevent the majority of voucher recipients from ever using them: private schools are under no obligation to accept students, and would likely reject the majority of those with histories of behavior problems, learning disabilities, or unstable family situations. In many areas, the only existing alternatives to public schools are parochial schools, whose religious messages make them unappealing to many parents. Deplorable conditions await those doomed to be left behind in already struggling schools whose financial problems would be exacerbated by vouchers.
The Response: If the quality of education in this country went up, the effects would trickle down to all institutions - public and private. Of course, current voucher plans like those backed by Jed Bush in Florida focus on the schools that struggle most; it is these institutions that are doing the worst job of using tax dollars and operating efficiently. The competition the voucher programs will encourage will overcome many of the obstacles that currently stand in the way of a good education - selfish teachers' unions, unmotivated career civil servants, and a stale curriculum.
"The public school voucher program, marketed as a plan for the poor,
is of most benefit to the wealthy and the Religious Right."
The Argument: If school vouchers are really a panacea for what ails minorities and the poor, why are they supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats, whose political base draws heavily from minorities and the lower class? The answer is simple: those with the most to gain under this proposal are not the working poor or minority communities, but the wealthy, who will gain tax credits for something they already do (send their kids to private schools), and the Christian Right, who are eager to use their vouchers to fund a religious education. Although these groups would be aided only slightly by the modest "trial balloon" attempts at a voucher programs in Florida and Cleveland, make no mistake - the proposal's Republican backers are aiming to expand the program, putting it to use for their supporters.
The Response: While the Democrats present themselves as the party of the poor, they are really the party of big government; Democrats in Congress and the White House have their hands tied by school unions and bloated government agencies who oppose the vouchers for self-serving reasons. Yes, the religious in the country would be well served by the voucher program, but that merely shows the program's broad appeal: it gives parents choices to do what they want. As for concerns about the voucher program being a payoff to the wealthy, legislation could be introduced that would prevent this unwanted consequence.
"Private institutions are not directly accountable for their actions.
There is no way to ensure they will act responsibly."
The Argument: Suppose your child is enrolled in a school and is being mistreated by a teacher. Or suppose he/she had a learning disability that required special attention. In a public school, parents have the right to make demands of the system, file complaints, and have their concerns addressed. A private school is exactly that, private, and under no obligation to accommodate individual situations. Similarly, though school vouchers offer assistance (though not necessarily full assistance) in paying tuition, there is nothing to prevent a private institution from raising its fees to the point where vouchers are no longer even close to sufficient. One need only look at the ridiculous costs of higher education in this country to see where private school tuitions could go. What then?
The Response: Opponents of school vouchers like to equate the program with mandatory private school. To do so misses the underlying premise of the program - competition between public and private. The school voucher program wouldn't force students out of the public schools. Instead, it would raise the standards for all students, especially those in currently failing public schools that, for the first time, will face real pressure to correct their flaws. If the private school system in this country cannot support students, we are no worse off than before, and, in fact, all the better for trying.
