How do you feel about school vouchers?

[DVC Sadie]

So, back to the voucher thing...

I think it varies from state to state but most of the proposals I have read...

parents are responsible for any cost not covered by the voucher---books, more tutition, misc. fees.

some states are paying for transportation--I learned from the boards that some states pay for transportation to private schools anyway. I think the idea is that they are paying for transportation anyway...what is a mile here or there.

Thanks for answering my question!

I just don't see how some of the parents will be able to afford the school uniforms, books and other fees even if they do receive a voucher, unless that voucher includes all the costs.

Hmmm, now I will have to try and find out what the voucher program for the state of Louisiana entails.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Because every student in that religious highschool is required to take 4 years of theology. They are required to attend mass on the Holy Days and do confession once a year, among other things.
FTR the religious schools are not always better than the public schools. Elementary schools were run the same but its been a very long time since I've attended so things may be different now.

What I don't understand is why ANYONE would CHOOSE to use a voucher to go to a Catholic school and then not want to follow the rules of that school. That makes no sense whatsoever in my opinion.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I come from the largest district in my county. We have tons of schools, some bad, some good. I find it very hard to believe that you don't have any good public schools in your district. If that is true then clearly you have a bigger problem in your area than the debate about vouchers.

Vouchers are not the answer for a failing school district, it won't solve anything. It just allows some students to go to a better school while others still have to remain in the failing schools. Then you still have the same problem that the vouchers were suppose to be fixing, how does that help anyone in the long run.

Well you don't live in New Orleans.

I did forget to include the new Charter schools that are cropping up, but they (I believe) are filled on a lottery style drawing.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I have several questions.

Even if the students receive a voucher who is responsible for paying for the schools uniforms, books and other fees?

How will these students get to their new schools?

I know in my neighborhood in Orleans Parish we had one public elementary school (Hynes) and one Catholic elementary school (St. Dominic), and one public high school (JF Kennedy), and Mount Carmel was the Catholic high school. Oh yea, we also had Prytania private school as another option.

I don't know if things have changed since I was in school and maybe they have more school options within the same parish now, but it seems to me if vouchers are allowed how will the Catholic schools handle the huge influx of new students?

I was wondering this too, since the OP is in Jefferson Parish and the vouchers are being distributed in Orleans. Are they going to bus these kids in?

 

[luvmy3]

No one is forcing the parent to place thier child in the school. It is a choice. If the rule was that you HAD to use the voucher for a religios school, then I might agree with you.


Not that I agree with the rest of your post either.

Not agree with what . I went to Catholic school this is how it is.

This was an answer to a posters question about why are some afraid of religious schools. It has nothing to do with being afraid, its about it being unconstitutional to use gov't funds to pay for someones education in one. If one chooses to go to religious schools using a voucher, they will be doing the things I posted. It would be the same if they chose a jewish school, or muslim, it doesn't matter what the religion is, they will be practicing it within the school walls. I don't want my tax dollars used to teach and promote any religion.

 

[luvmy3]

What I don't understand is why ANYONE would CHOOSE to use a voucher to go to a Catholic school and then not want to follow the rules of that school. That makes no sense whatsoever in my opinion.

Who said that they didn't want to? The point is the shouldn't be using gov't vouchers to pay for any religious school. Its unconstitutional.

 

[Sinderelli]

I was wondering this too, since the OP is in Jefferson Parish and the vouchers are being distributed in Orleans. Are they going to bus these kids in?

I'm not sure about the bussing issue. I know at our school, the parents have to pay if their children ride the bus to school. If I'm not mistaken, I think it's about $300.00 a year.

 

[KatheeME]

And if you read the Supream court rulings, they will tell you that your wrong. So, I'll just leave it at that.

Just because a Conservation Supreme Court ruled that way makes it right or the true intent of the Constitution. Remember that.
Kathee

 

[KatheeME]

In CT for a while, trailers had to be set up for the Catholic school remedial reading and speech kids to work with the public school funded teachers. We let common sense prevail fortunately. Plus, parochial school busses come out of the public school budget.

My anti-voucher stance has nothing to do with religion.

My anti-voucher stance has EVERYTHING to do with religion, that is why it's WRONG.

Kathee

 

[MassJester]

I used to be very much opposed to vouchers, and to be fair it's been an issue I've struggled with in many different forums.

But there are entire municipalities in which the education system has collapsed. And it has nothing to do with a lack of funding. Washington, D.C. has among the highest expenditures per pupil in the nation, and yet the school system is largely regarded as a mess.

Perhaps it is unconstitutional to give a family a voucher that they would then use in a religous school. There is certainly a good argument, and a series of court decisions in favor of that point of view.

However, if the municipal education system is broken (due to any combination of bad parents, careless teachers, incompetent administrators, and/or political tinkering), isn't both the student and the community better served if we let them go somewhere else?

Surely, the long term solution is to "fix the problems," but what about today's students? Should their chances at an education be sacraficed upon the altar of this constitutional principle? Is there not a larger and more compelling state interest in getting these children educated?

I don't particularly want my tax dollars to go in support of someone else's religion, however, if that religion can do what my community seems unable to do--educate the next generation--well then, I think I might become less concerned about the intrusion upon my civil liberties.

As for the students, well, I can't speak for them. But I know that if I had been given the choice between being a socially promoted, functionally illiterate graduate of a public school OR being a well educated young man who learned to read while following Islamic traditions--it wouldn't be a close call. Hey there Mohammed, thanks for the books.

 

[KatheeME]

Having gone to Catholic schools in New Orleans when I was growing up I will attest to the fact that we had Jewish, Presbyterian, Baptist and other religious affliations who all attended the same schools.

When I was growing up the best schools in the NOs area were Catholic schools and had a very high rate of both graduation and college bound students.

That is fine as my tax dollars aren't paying for it. Why would I want to pay for a Jew to have to listen to Hail Marys? Religion has NO public place.

Yes, I know, my tax dollars are already being wasted on religion in schools. But I am happy I live in a state where it's not allowed and religion has no place in public buildings. But I still want to move! lol

 

[KatheeME]

It is perfectly fine with me. I am not afraid of anyone elses religion. Why do you have such hate/fear of religion? And dont say "seperation of church and state" because that is not found anywhere in the Constitution.

I NO fear of religion, only the lies it spews. I do not believe in any religion.

 

[KatheeME]

You honestly think that that's going to keep the ACLU from jumping in at some point and trying to tell the school, "You accept govt funds, so no religion"? Come on. The ACLU has an agenda. That agenda is to get rid of faith altogether.

Um, no, but they are here to make sure religion is not mixed into education or public life. You can have all the "faith" you want, it's personal, as such, doesn't need to be imposed on others.

 

[KatheeME]

Not agree with what . I went to Catholic school this is how it is.

This was an answer to a posters question about why are some afraid of religious schools. It has nothing to do with being afraid, its about it being unconstitutional to use gov't funds to pay for someones education in one. If one chooses to go to religious schools using a voucher, they will be doing the things I posted. It would be the same if they chose a jewish school, or muslim, it doesn't matter what the religion is, they will be practicing it within the school walls. I don't want my tax dollars used to teach and promote any religion.

Thank you! A voice of reason. Well said.

 

[MassJester]

I NO fear of religion, only the lies it spews. I do not believe in any religion.

"Lies" maybe unneccessarily harsh. The word lie imputes an intent to deceive. It's fine that you don't share the belief structure, but even so the elements of that structure would not therefore be "lies."

 

[KatheeME]

"Lies" maybe unneccessarily harsh. The word lie imputes an intent to deceive. It's fine that you don't share the belief structure, but even so the elements of that structure would not therefore be "lies."

Trust me, I was raised a Catholic, intent to deceive IS accurate.

 

[MassJester]

Trust me, I was raised a Catholic, intent to deceive IS accurate.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience in the church.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Unfortunately, you need the kids to be motivated to get better. Yes a teacher can do that, but if a parent undermines or ignores what goes on in school, what do you do?

Continue to accept tons and tons of money. This is most important.

Don't educate the children.

When people point out that you have more money than any other school but your kids are dumber, shrug your shoulders and say, "It's everyone's fault but ours. The kids are dumb and the parents don't care. But we really, really need more money."

Hire your friends as consultants. Lovers, too. Throw lavish parties in expensive hotels. Have a ball.

Tell everyone that if they give you even more money, you'll do a better job. (Don't worry, you don't really have to do it.)

That's what most crappy school systems do. It works really well. Everyone says, "Oh, the poor little city kids just can't learn." And the schools are totally off the hook. Woo-hoo. Party time.

 

[mrsltg]

Too many posters here have a very myopic view of the world. It's easy to blame the parents and the kids. I agree, too many inner-city kids don't have a chance. However, when I was holding my 7 month old I realized that 30 miles away some other mother is holding her 7 month old and these two children are going to have vastly different outcomes.

My husband and I have the option to up and move when we feel like it. We didn't send our dd to public school because we felt it was a waste of time. She instead went to private school which was Plan B - Plan A is home schooling. I am no longer working so she is home schooled. I have a degree and am of above average intelligence as is my husband. Our home is filled with books and our girls are encouraged to "read" whatever book interests them. These children will have a positive outcome and will be well educated and will in turn have children who will be well educated.

On the flip side, some 14 year old has a baby the age of my youngest. This baby has been born into the welfare system and will most likely remain there. Nothing will be expected of this child and so nothing will be delivered. People of means will bicker back and forth about whether or not this child deserves an education and of course, great lip service will be paid by politicians and community activists. It won't matter though, because according to some on this thread this child is doomed no matter what. His or her mother doesn't read a newspaper therefore s/he won't, either. In an earlier post I posed the question of "why bother?" If the outcome is such a foregone conclusion than why bother sending these kids to school?

I do not believe that a child, due to their geographic location and, by default, color of their skin, is less worthy of a good education. The child needs to be inspired, yes. But it does not have to be a parent who is inspirational to that child. One adult can make the difference. Not to mention, it is very presumptuous to assume that because the parent has not been able to break free of the cycle that they do not want their child to be able to do differently. The public schools have failed these kids for so long we have generations of illiterates in one family. This is unacceptable. It's hard for mom to have books in the house when mom, grandma, and great-grandma can't read themselves. The answer to poverty is education. Public education is not delivering a worthwhile product. It's time for the NEA and it's cronies to step aside and let someone else have a try. The bright side is, it can't get any worse!

 

[Cor44432]

"Public education is not delivering a worthwhile product."

Speak for yourself. Most of the public schools in my area turn out students
just as strong if not better than any private school around.