http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/08/13/howard.education.monopoly/index.html Interesting article from Clark Howard, an Atlanta-based talk radio consumer advocate. What do you guys think about vouchers?
Interesting article. I agree with it that our school system is seriously flawed and we are falling so far behind other nations. That is one reason why I homeschool.
The idea of vouchers is sound, but I don't think it will work practically. Charter schools aren't being managed any better than public. And Christian schools that accept vouchers give up a great deal of automomy. Vouchers come with strings attached; the government says that since these schools accept government money, they need to follow certain government regulations. I'd rather see a tax credit, but that won't work, either. A welfare recipient isn't paying taxes in the first place; they can't get a tax credit if their child attends a non-public school.
We use a charter school and it's a 15 year program thus far. Every year they have an annual retreat where all parents, students, mentor teachers, workshop teachers and admins are asked to come and share their ideas of what they would like to see happen at our school. I really like having our charter school. I realize not all charter schools are good places. I see his points in this article. Cookie cutter PS molds that all children should be in are really inaccurate. That's the problem we faced with our PS with my oldest. Now she's in a happier place and decided that she didn't want to go to our local PS high school, instead she chose to go to our charter school through her high school years as well.
He hits the nail on the head but the final point he makes, comparing us to Finland, assumes that standardized testing are an acceptable means of measuring learning. Disagree with that premise. Love Clark Howard, though!
Hallalujah! and amen. Teach the teachers to teach and then trust them to do it. Allow parents control over whom they choose to teach their children and the good teachers will be successful. But - good luck with that....like pp said. "with gov money comes strings attached..." I love the idea of vouchers...I don't care if it does cause "white flight" or any other kind of flight. Blacks are actually big voucher supporters and can probably make the most difference in this argument.
I loved that article! I once saw on 20/20 another country that also has high test scores that has a wonderful system. No vouchers with strings attached. Each parent is given the money the gov. would be spending on their kids and the parents choose the school. The schools all have to compete and try to win parents over so they'll be chosen. If they suck they simply go out of business. I believe it was Belgium. Anyway the kids are doing well in school, the parents have complete control, and the schools are amazing because they have to be to survive. The key is no monopolies and no protection.
