School Vouchers: Okay for Lawmakers, Not Okay for Your Kids?

May 14, 2009 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under engage, life

Vouchers for black children to leave failing schools in order to attend public or private schools remains a touchstone in education policy and politics. However, if one reviews the choices lawmakers choose for their own children, surveys show that 38 percent of Members of Congress have sent their children to private school, and 20 percent (double the national average) attended private schools themselves.

An April Washington Post editorial made the following observations while discussing the debate in Congress on extending a voucher program for under-privileged students in the District of Columbia:

The gap between what Congress practices and what it preaches was best illustrated by the Heritage Foundation’s analysis of a recent vote to preserve the program. The measure was defeated by the Senate 58 to 39; it would have passed if senators who exercised school choice for their own children had voted in favor.

However, the tide may be turning, at least among African American lawmakers. USA Today reports that more African American lawmakers are open to vouchers:

While vouchers will likely never be the clarion call of Democrats, they’re beginning to make inroads among a group of young black lawmakers, mayors and school officials who have split with party and teachers union orthodoxy on school reform. The group includes Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and former Washington, D.C., mayor Anthony Williams.

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First proposed in 1955 by University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman, private-school vouchers have had a decidedly rocky history and have never fully taken root in U.S. public schools. While the federal government routinely underwrites college students’ tuition and fees to attend private colleges and universities, K-12 vouchers are limited to a few scattered programs in cities such as Cleveland, Milwaukee and, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans. Special-education students in Florida also attend private schools on the public dime, but voters in about a dozen states have rejected voucher proposals over the past few decades.

Fifty-four years after Friedman first proposed vouchers, only 61,000 of the nation’s 50 million students attend school with a voucher — just over one-tenth of 1%. Another 100,000 in six states benefit from tax credits for private-school tuition.

Would you take advantage of vouchers to send your children to a better school?

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Tags: education, engage

Eric K. Foster

No on vouchers. Always appreciate the opportunity weighing in on this meme of “private schools good for lawmakers, but…” Actually that is what the article’s headline should read: “Private Schools: Okay for Lawmakers, Not Okay for Your Kids?”

The article—not unlike the voucher movement and this survey—is misleading as it does not separate the “destination” (Private Schools) from the “method” or “vehicle” (School Vouchers). Do some lawmakers, as do other parents, prefer to send their kids to private schools? Sure. Do they do it using the vehicle of vouchers and taking tax money from the public? No.

Unless this survey reveals that 38 percent of Members of Congress send their kids to private schools using vouchers, then I’ll sign up on the double-standard/hypocrisy campaign. Alas, I read this survey from the Heritage Foundation and it does not say this. Most likely we can rightfully infer that those members send their kids to private schools out of their own income and private wealth. The latter of which varies between members.

Also, this article should cite examples of good methods for children to leave failing schools in order to attend excellent-funded and high-performing public schools, examples that exist in my hometown in Michigan with the “School of Choice” program—essentially a lottery.

I’m definitely against the “choice” in the form of School Vouchers, taking much-needed public dollars from the most cash-strapped and inadequately funded public schools. I enjoyed being a ‘hybrid’ in my young education—receiving a great public school education from 1st to 6th grade, and then learning in the best Catholic schools (in my opinion) from 7th to college preparatory…..

All through the funding of my mother—who raised me on her own—-working at GM and a long list of supplier companies, and putting in countless hours of A,B and C shifts and overtime one could imagine. She (and I) probably would have enjoyed innovative programs of choice, etc. back then, but definitely would not have advocated taking money from the schools—and by virtue of that taking money from my friends who attended them—-so I could go to a private institution on the public’s dime.

Vouchers reflect a band-aid approach that picks and chooses recipients and winners (remember, private schools don’t have to be egalitarian in accepting people with voucher in hand). If those pushing vouchers—who are often enemies of public education—are really concerned, then they should support what is really needed: 1. Reform public schools, especially through funding, specifically by reforming the way many school districts receive funding via property taxes, which creates inequality from the start of a shovel going into the ground. There will always be a tale of two cities between schools and school districts when the avenue for funding comes by way of property tax and assessment; 2. Stay measured in the profileration of charter schools—some are good and needed, but also fail often; 3. Continue to affirm what private donors and foundations do for children who justifiably wish to attend private schools.

I also call out the article—and the USA Today piece it attributes the report of “more African-American lawmakers are open to vouchers.” At least in the example of former Mayor Williams. His public education reform efforts were broad but focused on building up DCPS, especially his successful but unpopular move to make the school board half appointed by him/half elected. I know as I was asked to take a leave of absence to work on the campaign to get the amendment to the city charter passed in order to do so.

He hardly pushed or made a “clarion call” for vouchers in D.C., more than he accepted the reality that the then GOP controlled Congress was pushing it on the city as they did in ’94. D.C. had no choice. No pun intended.