School vouchers come in many forms, but all of them would provide parents with money to spend on the schools of their choice. We all want to provide our children with the best education possible -- but are voucher programs tools of change or misguided panaceas?
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Should Cities and States Adopt School Voucher Programs?
Leadership and Change Required
This year, one of the Denver Public Schools made what the newspapers heralded as a "bold choice"; they ended social promotion and required kids to pass their classes in order to advance to a higher grade. As I said in my blog, educators in other countries must be laughing their asses off at us.
In a city where it was reported excitedly that "42% of DPS high school students earned at least an average score in reading tests", meaning 58% are functionally illiterate, we are living proof that both the education system AND the mentality of those who run it are hopelessly broken.
Are charter schools and private schools the right way to fix it? While the early proof is overwhelmingly "yes", the long term answer might be "no". In many other countries attending a private school carries a stigma that your are a failure; that you couldn't handle the toughness required to make it in the public school. We could get there, but it would take leadership we simply do not have in this country.
- Kasidie July 24, 2008 10:06AM
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Private school stigma?
In this country, attending a private school is generally viewed as a privilege. No one is fighting to get their kids into the public schools. You may have to survive metal detectors, drug dealers and gangs and be tough at public schools--but you certainly don't have to learn much to get out.
If the funding for the student went with the student, the school's would have incentive to improve. Right now, public schools don't have to do anything except meet minimal requirements. If you're in a good school district, great. If you're not, too bad.
- noaxis2
October 19, 2008 9:16PM
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Side: Yes
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