Reply to Protest Hogan's diversion of public funds from public schools into private schools

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Reply to "Protest Hogan's diversion of public funds from public schools into private schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Generally these programs are for kids whose needs are not being met in public. Would you rather pay the societal costs later or invest now? [/quote]

Generally? We are not talking here about public school systems paying private schools for students with disabilities, for whom the public school system is unable to provide a free and appropriate education. We are talking about vouchers for parents to use public money to pay private schools.[/quote]

Exactly. I'm the pp. There are many kids whose needs are not being met in public school, and it's not because of disabilities. Go read the independent school forum or visit some of the area privates. MCPS uses a cookie cutter, or as some say "factory model" of education. Many kids need project-based learning, or less disruptive classrooms, or a school with lots of breaks for physical activity. Why limit that option to just the wealthy? All our kids deserve an education that motivates them. Privates grant financial aid, but these schools will benefit from additional government funds. Many of the kids in MD go to Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim schools (per the Baltimore Sun article posted upstream). These schools teach values; they use a virtues-based curriculum, which ironically was developed by a former MCPS "teacher of the year" who couldn't get MCPS to adopt this system. Kids from difficult backgrounds need very nurturing schools. Many public schools are so overcrowded and the teachers are so overwhelmed with bureaucracy and heterogeneous classrooms (see above thread from teachers) that they just can't reach these kids as well as small privates. The vouchers give these kids another chance, and the parents work hard to support their kids. By the way, have you asked where your public school teachers send their kids to school? I was surprised to learn how many MCPS teachers send their own kids to private schools. [/quote]

If there are many kids whose needs are not being met in public school, then the solution is to improve the public school system. The solution is not to spend tax dollars to send kids to private school, because we already know that doesn't work. (And, in the case of tax dollars for religious schools, it's also counter to the First Amendment.)[/quote]

Yes, the solution would be to improve the system, but it's not happening. Like another pp, I voiced opposition to Prometheon boards, PowerPoint lessons in lieu of more physical activity, etc. However, MCPS ignored parent input.

We need to work on improving public schools, obviously, but we can't also turn a blind eye to innovations like charter schools and vouchers. For some kids, public works. I wish I wasn't paying tuition for private. But I'm also thrilled that DC provides Opportunity Scholarships for disadvantaged families in DC. I'd like to see MD do more of the same. Why shouldn't inner city Baltimore kids go to McDonough and other top privates with some aid?

Those studies posted are lengthy, full of regression analysis, which I'll read later...but even the Ohio study found that voucher kids are more likely to attend college. Now are they attending crappy colleges? Perhaps. But I also know of DC voucher kids who made it to the very top colleges and universities in the nation. [/quote]

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