Riled Up

I have my dander up this morning about school vouchers. It all started with an article that Quaker Dave posted about an ill-conceived safety lesson at a California high school. Dave's post generated a plethora of comments, one from a Quaker gentleman saying in effect that, this illustrates a failure of public schools and perhaps it is time for liberals to get behind school choice and vouchers.

What's so wrong with vouchers? Where do I begin? In any public school, from the wealthiest suburban school to the poorest inner city school you have a range of parents, from those with the resources and wherewithal to advocate for their children and support the school community in general, to those that can't and don't for whatever reason. When vouchers to attend private schools are made available, what happens is that a percentage of those parents who are active in a school community -- no matter what its socio-economic status -- are skimmed off the top leaving all the rest to fend for themselves. Furthermore, when they go, a chunk of money goes with them. Of course this impacts lower income schools far more profoundly than it does wealthier schools, because public school funding is absolutely not equitable.

I'm not flat-out opposed to private schools. As far as I am concerned, anyone can start their own private school for any reason. What I am opposed to and will be opposed to until the end of my days, is people who want state money for their children to attend private schools. That leaves an awful lot of children behind, in a very real sense.

I am fully aware that I am fortunate to live in a place where our public schools -- even the urban ones -- are relatively safe and kids get a good education. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I think the availability of private schools (along with a severe lack of funding for ALL public schools in this country) has contributed to the disarray that many big city public school systems are in. (And as I write this, I am thinking specifically of Philadelphia and Quaker schools. I know that I will make people uncomfortable by saying that, but it is what I believe.)

Remember also, that vouchers that are available for Quaker schools and Waldorf schools and schools modeled on Summerhill, will also have to be available for attending schools that might teach religious fundamentalism, white supremacy, etc. etc. It would be opening a regular Pandora's box.

I don't buy the argument for a minute that "a voucher system is inevitable, so liberals need to get behind it." Is fascism inevitable, so liberals should get behind that too, maybe help create a kinder, gentler form of fascism? No, thanks.

We are living in a time when every form of public works is under assault from all directions. Public schools are no exception. As in all things emanating from the Right, follow the money. There are people who stand to profit mightily from the privatization (i.e. CORPORATIZATION) of public schools. Vouchers are on that spectrum (as are charter schools, which is another concept we liberals are supposed to get behind.)

And think about this: private (and charter) schools do not have hire unionized teachers. Teachers' unions do have their warts, but I'll tell you that teachers' unions are made up of real people, teachers, who are among the best advocates for children in this country.

Okay, let me wipe the froth from my mouth and put away my soapbox. You'd think, reading this, I wasn't on summer vacation!