School Vouchers - Public Money to Support ISM's

I was recently challenged, “What if all of your critiques about school vouchers were positively addressed and corrected?  Would you then be able to support their implementation?”

A valid question.  Essentially, in my mind, is there room for compromise and peaceful co-existence between school vouchers and public education?  The answer is unequivocally, “No.”

This is not a case of pig headiness. This is a case of moral principal. School vouchers are unabashedly anti-democratic (not party, ideals).  School vouchers represent the use of public money to support private “ISM’s.” Take your pick: Elitism; Racism; Religiousism (my word, any denomination); Sexism; Escapism; etc. 

Not all of these ISM’s are bad and not all of them are detrimental to society. In fact, there are ISM’s that are extremely beneficial to society.  But the essence of ISM is to separate, categorize, elevate and/or marginalize those who belong to the ISM and those who do not.  We cannot forget that just a generation ago we litigated separate, but equal. Because separate, but equal… is not.

As such, the school of the ISM must remain private.  Those who adhere to the ISM can choose to pay to have their children indoctrinated and educated in the ISM.  That is their right. But the public is under no obligation to fund that choice.  And to compel the public to do so, has the very real consequence of having the public fund activities detrimental to the public good.

Does that mean that there are those who desire to join the ISM, but are unable to do so due to a lack of financial means? Yes. Does that mean that the public should concern itself with this fact? Absolutely not.

Our ideals and institutions of public education are the foundation of our democratic society.  As such, they should be cherished, supported and well-funded.  Any scheme that does otherwise is frankly, Anti-American.   

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The Voucher Mindset

A brief look inside the mind of the anti-publics school politician and school voucher proponent during his morning commute... 

You know, it is really unreasonable that I have to pay taxes that don’t benefit ME directly.  After all, I have worked hard for everything I have accomplished, without ever benefiting from any public infrastructure built by the generations of taxpayers before ME.  I also have no obligation to provide a means of betterment for my fellow citizens who are less successful I am.  After all, the poor choose to be poor.

Since I do not want MY children to have to spend the day with the unwashed masses I choose to send MY children to private school. Because of MY choice, I am paying private school tuition to educate MY children and school taxes to educate the children of the unwashed masses I do not want MY children to be around.  What I need is a school voucher to yank back MY tax dollars that are used to educate the children of those who do not work as hard as ME.

I, oops, I mean we, need school vouchers.

I can’t believe I am stuck behind this bus again. Why won’t MY driver go around that thing.  You know, it is really unreasonable that I have to pay taxes to support public transportation. As if I would ever consider riding something so common.  Does not anyone care what it costs ME to pay for this limousine. What I need is a transportation voucher to yank back MY tax dollars that are used to transport of those less deserving than ME.

I, oops, I mean we, should call it Limo Choice.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

School Vouchers and the Problem of Inequitable Funding

One of the things that truly bothers me about our Anti-Public School Politicians us how they are either ignorant of school law or believe that the special interests that they are beholden to should be above the law.  Take for example public school funding.

Public schools in Texas are funded based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA). I will simplify the math to illustrate what this looks like. If the state sets an annual per student funding rate of $8,500.00, that does not mean that the schools receives $8,500.00 per child. That would only occur of the student attends school every day. The state funds based on attendance.  Using our $8,500.00 example and a 177-day school year, the state funds at about $48.00 per day per child (not the real amount, this is an illustrative example.) If little Johnny is absent ten times this year, he is funded at $8,020.00. This is not a complaint, just a fact of public school life.

Now take the proposed school voucher.  The child with a voucher enrolls in a private school.  The parent takes the (example) school voucher of $7,500.00 and presents it to the private school to cover tuition.  Fine and good if the child attends school every day.  But what if this child is absent?  Does the private school need to return $42.00 ($7,500.00 / 177) for every day this occurs?

If not, this creates two immediate and significant problems. 

Number 1: The private school is now receiving public funds for services NOT provided.  

Number 2: Private schools (which benefit the few) are now provided a more favorable funding mechanism than public schools (which benefit the many).

So, Anti-Public School Politician, which charge do you prefer? Theft or cronyism? Or would you rather fix these two problems by tracking private school ADA and either fund or recapture accordingly?

Except, if school vouchers are to be driven by ADA, that requires the creation of an entire bureaucracy to operate, monitor and audit the program.  And as a small government, fiscal conservative, you can’t be for that? 

Unless your belief really aren’t beliefs, but are instead lies of convenience. 

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook