Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/grammar)

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

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Yes I do support voucher programs. Tax payer money pays for public education.Therefore parents should be reimbursed the cost of education if they wish to send their child to a private school. Why should any parent be told to **** off if they want to use that money that is usually taken out for public education be spent on private education. If you pay for something that is usually funded with tax payer dollars you should be reimbursed for it,sure there are some exceptions to that,for example you shouldn't be fully reimbursed if you decide to send your child to the most expensive private school on the planet.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

EDIT: The poll didn't work. I don't know why.

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NO. 1. There is no evidence that private schools perform better than public schools.
2. Since 95% of private schools are sectarian, it is basically a way to fund church schools with public money.
3. The government will still have to fund public schools for all the students the private schools reject, the private school rejected students are usually the more expensive to educate, the handicapped, the special-needs students, and they will have to do it with less money per student.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

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I do not except in extreme cases, like overcrowding and consistant poor school ratings. In those case, vouchers should be given to any parent that wants them until the particular school district has made the necessary improvements.

I say that as someone who went to and sent my child to private schools at different times, and neither me nor my parents were wealthy.

Paying for schools is like paying for highways and other gov services, it's simply something we all do as citizens, even if we don't use a particular service.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

I do not support government funded voucher programs. That money should be directed to the public school system to help make improvements.

How does giving money to private schools make public schools better?

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

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Yes, I am a big proponent of vouchers. However, I think we should test it out with high schools before we try it with primary schools.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

OKgrannie said:

NO. 1. There is no evidence that private schools perform better than public schools.

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It depends where you live. If you live in an upper-middle class neighborhood with decent public schools, that may very well be true. I went to a public school here in Ohio, because the local Catholic school was definitely inferior.

However, in most places I think you'll find the opposite. I'm moving back to DC next week...the public schools there (even in the affluent parts of the District) are downright horrible. But there are plenty of top-notch private schools.

OKgrannie said:

2. Since 95% of private schools are sectarian, it is basically a way to fund church schools with public money.

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I think there are a couple ways around that problem where we could still have vouchers. First of all, the religious schools could be required to self-finance (or charge tuition) for whatever proportion of their curriculum is religious in nature. For example, if there are 7 classes per day and 1 of them is religion, the students/schools would be responsible for at least 1/7 of the tuition. And the government could provide a voucher for no more than 6/7 of the tuition.

Alternatively, we could just limit vouchers to secular private schools. There might not be very many of them now, but I'm sure a lot more of them will start popping up if vouchers can be used there.

OKgrannie said:

3. The government will still have to fund public schools for all the students the private schools reject, the private school rejected students are usually the more expensive to educate, the handicapped, the special-needs students, and they will have to do it with less money per student.

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I'm confused by what you mean. There are already special private schools for the handicapped and other special-needs students. Not all private schools are focused on "rejecting" all but the best students.

I don't see how this would mean there was less money per student. Yes, some money that was devoted toward public schools would instead go toward vouchers...but there would also be fewer students for the public schools to worry about.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

One, maybe the greatest, flaw in the Constitution of the Republic was the failure to establish separation of Education and State.

Today, we reap a bitter crop from that failure, and the indoctrination of our children, as well as ourselves, into philosophies that benefit only those who would be our masters.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

OKgrannie said:

NO. 1. There is no evidence that private schools perform better than public schools.
.

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I learned far more than I did in my Catholic private grade school than I did in my public high school. In 5th grade we covered things that public school only skimmed on in 12th grade. May not be 'evidence' but that's good enough for me to know better than to send my daughter to a public school around here.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Yes.

I am of the opinion that doing so will improve education, if implimented correctly.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Kandahar said:

I think there are a couple ways around that problem where we could still have vouchers. First of all, the religious schools could be required to self-finance (or charge tuition) for whatever proportion of their curriculum is religious in nature. For example, if there are 7 classes per day and 1 of them is religion, the students/schools would be responsible for at least 1/7 of the tuition. And the government could provide a voucher for no more than 6/7 of the tuition.

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A very interesting idea. I think that is a fair compromise.

OKgrannie said:

NO. 1. There is no evidence that private schools perform better than public schools.

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Yes there is. A very comprehensive study was done. Here is a link to it, beware its a PDF:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/studies/2006461.pdf
I went to a Catholic High School, and the education was definitely better than the public schools in the area.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Kandahar said:

I don't see how this would mean there was less money per student. Yes, some money that was devoted toward public schools would instead go toward vouchers...but there would also be fewer students for the public schools to worry about.

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The cost to run a school isn't directly proportional to the number of students who attend, though. There are many lumpy costs (facilities, administrators, etc etc) that the school would be less able to afford. If I saw a voucher plan that deals well with those who remain in public school in an area where most go to private school, I'd most likely be in favor of vouchers

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

One, maybe the greatest, flaw in the Constitution of the Republic was the failure to establish separation of Education and State.

Today, we reap a bitter crop from that failure, and the indoctrination of our children, as well as ourselves, into philosophies that benefit only those who would be our masters.

Click to expand...

I agree with that. I don't think the government should be running education. Every since public education started, our standards have been terribly lowered. But there is always that problem with poorer families. They have no inherent "right" to an education, but I think they should be able to get it. But I wouldn't want this voucher program to become like another welfare/medicaid/medicare disaster.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

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If a private organization wishes to make non-government funds available to public school students to attend the private school of their choice, well, that would be a good idea.

I also support a voucher program for all students from government funds to attend a public school of their choice.

If a parent wishes their child attend a private school then that is a great idea but they, the parents, ought be responsible to fund that choice......not the taxpayers.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

The ultimate solution is a total separation of education and state. Then we won't have to worry about vouchers.

Other problems that would disappear are prayer in school, lack of school choice, biased curriculums, teachers' unions, and gross overstaffing of useless bureaucrats.

The quality of education would surge upward while the cost would drop dramatically.

FREE MARKET EDUCATION

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

The ultimate solution is a total separation of education and state. Then we won't have to worry about vouchers.

Other problems that would disappear are prayer in school, lack of school choice, biased curriculums, teachers' unions, and gross overstaffing of useless bureaucrats.

The quality of education would surge upward while the cost would drop dramatically.

FREE MARKET EDUCATION

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I agree with the concept behind that, but how would the poor get an education? If they are working and trying to get money, but can't afford it, their kids will be stupid and will never be able to advance in society. I don't see how a completely free-market education would work, but if I wish it could.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Oftencold said:

One, maybe the greatest, flaw in the Constitution of the Republic was the failure to establish separation of Education and State.

Today, we reap a bitter crop from that failure, and the indoctrination of our children, as well as ourselves, into philosophies that benefit only those who would be our masters.

Click to expand...

I never thought of it in this way before, but it makes sense.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

If somebody came up with a private system of education that is not government run but somehow allows all children to attend I will be all for it. But I don't know if that is possible.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Oftencold said:

One, maybe the greatest, flaw in the Constitution of the Republic was the failure to establish separation of Education and State.

Today, we reap a bitter crop from that failure, and the indoctrination of our children, as well as ourselves, into philosophies that benefit only those who would be our masters.

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I experienced zero indoctrination in public schools (unless that's what you consider science and logic), but heavy religious indoctrination in the two private schools I attended.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

I experienced zero indoctrination in public schools (unless that's what you consider science and logic), but heavy religious indoctrination in the two private schools I attended.

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Or maybe the public schools were so subtle in their indoctrination you didn't notice...that is how it works normally. You don't know when you are indoctrinated, that is how you become indoctrinated...

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Lakryte said:

A voucher program would basically give money to poorer families to attend private schools. Do you support an idea like this? I am still on the fence about it.

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That's really nothing more than a lie used by right-wing groups to get tax breaks for people who choose to send their children to religious private schools.

A Voucher program would not likely help anyone get into private schools except perhaps those on the border that would like to send their kids to these schools but can't afford it.

The real motivation behind the ploy is simply an advancement of the religious right's agenda to bring religion into the secular governmental sphere.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

jamesrage said:

Yes I do support voucher programs. Tax payer money pays for public education.Therefore parents should be reimbursed the cost of education if they wish to send their child to a private school. Why should any parent be told to **** off if they want to use that money that is usually taken out for public education be spent on private education. If you pay for something that is usually funded with tax payer dollars you should be reimbursed for it,sure there are some exceptions to that,for example you shouldn't be fully reimbursed if you decide to send your child to the most expensive private school on the planet.

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So if I have no children at all, then I shouldn't pay any taxes funding education right?

The reality is, I have no children but gladly pay taxes into an educational system because in the end an educated society benefits us all.

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

disneydude said:

That's really nothing more than a lie used by right-wing groups to get tax breaks for people who choose to send their children to religious private schools.

A Voucher program would not likely help anyone get into private schools except perhaps those on the border that would like to send their kids to these schools but can't afford it.

The real motivation behind the ploy is simply an advancement of the religious right's agenda to bring religion into the secular governmental sphere.

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This seems like quite a stretch for me, or anyone, to believe. Do you have any proof of your accusation?

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

Joe1991 said:

I experienced zero indoctrination in public schools (unless that's what you consider science and logic), but heavy religious indoctrination in the two private schools I attended.

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It appears that the indoctrination was extremely successful in your case then.

All educational systems indoctrinate.

Teaching you that people are your equals, that rights are universal, that there is a right and a wrong are examples of indoctrination, however we may feel about the matters.

The question is, do you want the Government, which relies on your input to function to be the Entity that indoctrinates you?

Apply critical thought!

Re: Are you in favor of vouchers for children to attend private schools? (high/gramma

The Mark said:

This seems like quite a stretch for me, or anyone, to believe. Do you have any proof of your accusation?

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Simple. Ask yourself this question:
Who are the ones who carry the banner of the voucher system?
(I'll even give you a clue...it isn't the non-religious private schools)