I don't see this taking effect anytime soon. Too many PS folks will want to keep all money for education. HS folks pay school taxes just like anyone else even though our children aren't enrolled in PS and many times don't use any of the PS services. If HS'ers are given a tax break, people without children will want a break, too. Those who choose to use PS services will either be denied or have to pay a fee (both of which are understandable). I don't know... I see this causing more harm than good. It'll make states like Texas require more oversight, because for now, there really aren't any rules... not really, anyway. (There are, but they're vague and not monitored.)
What would you say to a complete separation of school and state. The govt gives zero dollars to schools. If you want an education, go get it. If nothing else, quality would skyrocket. yes?
One argument I saw left of all the formal debaters is the Lifelong Learning Credits adults currently get for continuing their education. Its not fresh in my mind, but college students used to get a break on tuition, etc. I'm surprised there were no parallel arguments. Of course I would love to see "education credits" extended to homeschoolers for educationally related expenses -- textbooks, teaching resources, manipulatives, computers, etc. Tutoring is questionable because there is often a fine line between tutor and babysitter. I don't think we should get credits for classes like art, music lessons, karate, swim, etc. Expensive though they are, I would do most of those classes regardless of it the kids were in school or not. Formal online classes like EPGY, etc I can see. I would not do any of it at the risk of further restrictions in educational choice.
Quality might skyrocket, maybe, but I also think cost would skyrocket. Most people wouldn't be able to afford education at all anymore. I think public school is a wonderful thing for "most" people. There are so.many.kids. out there who have nothing. They have no future without education because they come from a place where all they see is abuse and poverty. I used to teach PS. We LITERALLY had elementary and middle school children showing up to school wearing the same clothes everyday and drunk as could be because their parents weren't home and the only "food" in the fridge was beer. We saw (and intercepted) many cases of abuse that otherwise would've gone unnoticed. I taught in an extremely poor, rural, chicken farming town where about 70% of the population spoke nothing but Spanish and couldn't wait until their children were old enough to drop out of school and help with the family's expenses. That's just one example, but it's everywhere, and it happens even in the "rich" schools. Why further segregate children in a sort of social heirarchy? I know if public education were treated as higher education is, there would be no options for a lot of kids. My parents were both teachers, so although we were broke as could be, we made too much money for me to qualify for college scholarships. If public education were given based on income, yes, some kids (like those already on the free or reduced lunch programs) would be able to go to school ... but at what cost? Why would teachers take PS pay to work with the most at-risk kids when they could be paid more privately to work with kids whose parents are paying out of pocket for education and are more likely to pay attention to details to see if they're getting their money's worth? No. Public education should be free and available to all. It's not bad in and of itself. It's just not the right choice for MY family, and I'm thankful to God that I have a choice in the matter.
I say, "Keep the money and leave us alone." A story link on that same page gives a sample of the stuff we'd hear if we got a tax break. The pittance that we'd save would not be worth the hassle. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebat...-deserve-a-tax-break/more-oversight-is-needed
The point of public education is to make sure every child gets an education. I could definitely argue the merits of the existence of government run schools but giving homeschoolers a tax break for homeschooling wouldn't make sense. One would have to give those who send their children to private school a tax break also. It would leave only those who are childless and those who have children attending public school left to pay for public schools. It would be like giving people a tax break for not being on welfare which kinda defeats the purpose of welfare. I also think it would encourage people to homeschool which may end up being a discredit to homeschoolers. It will be better if only those who truly want to homeschool decide to do so, not those who might be enticed by financial gains.
We used to live in IL and I got to use the tax break for one year. No government oversight - just like a write off I had to keep the receipts, and you could only write off a certain amount (1/2 or a 1/4 of what you spent up to $500 or something like that). I just added our receipts to our tax folder and done. I think also private schoolers got to take advantage of it, and since homeschooling falls under private schooling in IL (at least I think this was how it worked), that is how we got the write off.
YEP!!! I'd love a tax credit, but it would come with strings. I don't want the strings, so keep your money.
I too would be concerned about the government oversight. I'd rather pay for the ps education system too, because at leas then, every child is getting SOMETHING.
"Cruel & unusual" comes to mind. People can't be forced to educate their children if they have no education and no money themselves!
Well, were I live senior citizens do not pay school taxes on their property tax bill. So if they do not have to pay then I certainly do not think I have to pay. It is VERY unfair. Anyway... their are TONS of private schools around here and their teachers do not really get paid better (depends on the school). PS teachers usually have AMAZING benefits too that others cannot compare to. It is hard to say how it would go if you got rid of ps or something. I think everyone does deserve an education and I am not sure if I would want a tax credit or not. I guess it would depend on what is offered. The BEST way to save us money is to fix the ps system. Maybe cap some salaries. Our superintendent make 350,000 + a year. That would give me more money in my pocket.
I'm all for salary caps...and all of the senseless oversight organizations that demand compliance and get our tax dollars for no other reason than to create jobs for administration of schools. Pay teachers to teach kids. A superintendant can double as a principal in each district. Those are the people in the trenches actually finding out what works and what doesn't. Leave big government out of it and we'd all be better off.
In some places senior citizens don't pay property taxes at all, even on a homestead they originally got for free. There is no such thing as fair taxes. There is only such thing as less taxes.
I want NOTHING from the Gov't.. I like them staying out of my business. a Tax break will give them more power to rule over our homeschools.
If I have to be more accountable to the government in my homeschooling and answer to them according to my choices in curricula, teaching, etc. Then I don't want their money! If I can proceed like I am then whoo! hoo!
