Utah voters are going to decide if they want the government to help pay for private schools with vouchers. Because Utah seems to have the least problem with school retention, not listed among the dropout problems in the United States, a voucher system might not do anything to improve the situation. Other states with far more problematic inner cities need alternatives to public education as it stands. My own thoughts on the subject are mixed, and I can't make up my mind if they would be good or not. As with everything political, there are two sides to the argument.
The argument for Vouchers is that students and parents have the right to choose where education opportunities are offered. They shouldn't have to be forced to participate in a system that even those who support public education know has problems. Adding competition into the process will force the public school system to improve or make way for better institutions. Fix the problems rather than force people to continue to fund what they consider broken or worse.
Problems with this include the argument that money going to vouchers will divert much needed funding from public schools. The public school system is under-funded and teachers are not paid as much as they should. Not only that, but those who will get the vouchers have already decided to put their children into alternative education. They might save a few dollars, but not have any significant dent for those who really need a change. It might allow for only a few new alternative education students enter who might be on the financial edge. The poor would still not be able to pay for a change even with the help.
Other arguments against the voucher are that public schools have a better chance at a more divers curriculum. Parents who would be enticed away from the public schools are the ones that would most likely help improve those conditions that cause the most concern. Teachers are highly trained to teach and are hired to do exactly that. Not just anyone will be allowed to teach any subject they wish to the students. The government has strict rules that can make sure the students learn exactly what they should. There isn't that protection in alternative educational environments.
Of course, those who disagree say this is exactly what is not happening. Sure, the teachers have been trained, but so have those who teach alternative education. They just don't always have to have a big "certification" paper, although many of them do. The point is that no matter what educational standards for teachers and schools exist, the problems have not gone away. Those parents who will leave that might help make improvements are not getting listened to anyway. It is best for them to leave and make a bigger noise than continue talking and get ignored. Pumping money into the system after so many years hasn't corrected the problems, maybe taking money away will force changes.
It really is all confusing. The answers are not easy, and vouchers might not do much better to solving deep felt problems. However, all the years of putting more money into schools or recognition that something is wrong with public education hasn't changed the situation. The solution might be nothing more than parents, no matter if alternative or public, getting more involved in the education of their own children. Above all else, that has consistently proven to increase the potential of a good education. The voucher system might add more choice, but its hard to say if it will add more public and parental involvement beyond financial contributions.
The argument for Vouchers is that students and parents have the right to choose where education opportunities are offered. They shouldn't have to be forced to participate in a system that even those who support public education know has problems. Adding competition into the process will force the public school system to improve or make way for better institutions. Fix the problems rather than force people to continue to fund what they consider broken or worse.
Problems with this include the argument that money going to vouchers will divert much needed funding from public schools. The public school system is under-funded and teachers are not paid as much as they should. Not only that, but those who will get the vouchers have already decided to put their children into alternative education. They might save a few dollars, but not have any significant dent for those who really need a change. It might allow for only a few new alternative education students enter who might be on the financial edge. The poor would still not be able to pay for a change even with the help.
Other arguments against the voucher are that public schools have a better chance at a more divers curriculum. Parents who would be enticed away from the public schools are the ones that would most likely help improve those conditions that cause the most concern. Teachers are highly trained to teach and are hired to do exactly that. Not just anyone will be allowed to teach any subject they wish to the students. The government has strict rules that can make sure the students learn exactly what they should. There isn't that protection in alternative educational environments.
Of course, those who disagree say this is exactly what is not happening. Sure, the teachers have been trained, but so have those who teach alternative education. They just don't always have to have a big "certification" paper, although many of them do. The point is that no matter what educational standards for teachers and schools exist, the problems have not gone away. Those parents who will leave that might help make improvements are not getting listened to anyway. It is best for them to leave and make a bigger noise than continue talking and get ignored. Pumping money into the system after so many years hasn't corrected the problems, maybe taking money away will force changes.
It really is all confusing. The answers are not easy, and vouchers might not do much better to solving deep felt problems. However, all the years of putting more money into schools or recognition that something is wrong with public education hasn't changed the situation. The solution might be nothing more than parents, no matter if alternative or public, getting more involved in the education of their own children. Above all else, that has consistently proven to increase the potential of a good education. The voucher system might add more choice, but its hard to say if it will add more public and parental involvement beyond financial contributions.
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