canasia.org

NEITHER IS A RIGHT IN THE CASE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS. So, the parents who had no say in public schools have no say in private schools, even if it's for different reasons. I sent my children to private school because I had no choice (other than move) with public schools. I chose the private school. The public schools was assigned. When private schools are no good they go out of business. When publics schools are not good they get more money to get better but never do.

The customers already have the power to spend their money elsewhere. What you want is for greedy snots to spend somebidy else's money. I think you will find that is not the case. Especially inner city parents would not be able to pay for a better school. Poor folks now spend somebody else's money for a lousy education.

(LeChevalier): There is a problem with public subsidy of that choice.  Most states have a constitutional provision requiring them to provide a free public school system.  There is no requirement... True. (LeChevalier): ...or need for the public to subsidize alternative choices... There we differ. (LeChevalier): ...and since 80% of them are religious alternatives, it is a church/state issue as well. a) The distribution of schools, by type (State, independent, parochial) is an artifact of the current policy. b) The US Supreme Court has held that policies which give to parents the power to determine which institution shall receive the taxpayers' K-12 education subsidy DO NOT violate the establishment clause.      

Liz  wrote: Peter Franks wrote:... (Peter): Rather than vouchers, perhaps the option should be given to parents that choose to send their children to alternate schools should be given the option to deduct the full amount of the tuition from their agi, as well as be exempt from taxes relating to public education. (Liz): Why should they be given that option?  Those people who don't use parks aren't exempt from park levies.  Should they be able to deduct the full amount of their cruise ship, excluding tips of course, because they decided to take their recreation in the Caribbean rather than picnicking in the local park?  Those people who don't use libraries aren't exempt from the taxes levied to provide for them. Should everyone get a full deduction for their Amazon.com and Borders Books payments because they aren't availing themselves of the publicly provided library services? Vouchers give the power to make education choices to the people who know children best and are most reliably concerned for their welfare, their parents. I reason axiomatically, here. 1). Most parents love their children and want their children to outlive them. 2) If you live among people there are basically three ways to make a living: i) you can beg, ii) you can steal, iii) you can trade goods and services for other peoples' goods and services. 3) Most parents accept #2 and prefer 2.iii for their children. 4 )Therefore, most parents want what taxpayers want from any education system: that children be educated to be contributing members of society. If the public school system is not an employment program for public- sector employees, a source of padded contracts for politically- connected insiders, and a venue for State-worshipful indoctrination, why cannot any student take, at any time, an exit exam (the GED will do) and apply the taxpayers' K-12 education subsidy toward post- secondary tuition up to age 18, or toward a wage subsidy an any qualified (say, has filed W-2 forms on at least three employees for at least the previous four years) private-sector employer? If it is fraud for a mechanic to charge for the repair of a functional motor, and if it is fraud for a physician to charge for the treatment of a healthy patient, then it is fraud for the State to charge for the instruction of a student who does not need our help.