Posted on 01/05/2006 8:32:55 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
TALLLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Supreme Court has struck down the state's school voucher system that paid for some students to attend private schools.
BTW, I believe that this ruling could equally be used to overturn ANY florida program which provides any education outside of the uniform public school system, as any such system takes money that could be used for public schools, and goes into a non-uniform system which is in competition with the public schools.
It's scary that a supreme court could make this big a mistake, because there is little more you can do. US courts are deferential to state courts ruling on state constitutions, and this doesn't appear to be a religious issue for them.
Same here, but you have to watch out for "Good ol' boy" networks........
A good 2nd grade teacher can be a big influence on whether or not that kid ends up having enough respect for education to be in a position to take on calculus down the line. The best teacher I ever had, and one of the very few I remember by name and face, was my 1st grade teacher.
Having said that, if market forces were able to operate freely, the calculus teacher would probably be able to command a higher salary.
In my simpleton mind I have always thought that taxes for school were taken from the taxpayer to fund their children's education in a public school.
So in my simpleton way of thinking, parents that decide to educate their children at home or send them to a private school should be able to keep that portion of their payable taxes for education.
So in my simpleton opinion I can't see how it is that the government is paying for private school, rather they are allowing parents a choice on what to do with their own money.
Of course there are children with parents who are unable to pay and so there are education expenses that must be picked up by general taxes. I guess that's why they are called vouchers, to give all children a financial foundation for an education.
IMHSO (In My Humble Simpleton Opinion)
No surprise. I hope the legislators can draft a new voucher statute that will pass muster.
The NEA fights any attempt to loosen their hold on our children. Once again the court has sentenced disadvantaged children to a 2nd rate education. Without vouchers we have a system of seperate but unequal. Where is the outrage?
Are you kidding? I wouldn't teach a class of 7 year old for double pay:')
According to the ruling, without regard to race, religion, etc. ALL private schools are not allowed to get any public money, and in a basic way says private schools are illegal in Florida........
I don't see that logic. The state is required to supply and support a free public school system. I don't see where it says that people have to use it and not set up their own if they have the money to do so.
Well, in these days of no discipline...I can see your point.:)
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer! And I a have not read the entire document because I am just about to leave the PC....
Can you explain how?
They seem to think that this:
"Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools."
Means that it is not legal for the state to *also* spend money on private schools. ie that "uniform" also means "universal", which I don't think it does.
They say this on p26
"Instead, the OSP diverts funds that would otherwise be
provided to the system of free public schools that is the exclusive means set out in the Constitution for the Legislature to make adequate provision for the education
of children."
Does the fact that only public schools are mentioned in the constitution mean that others are thereby prohibited? That seems to be their rationale for the word "exclusive".
That will be the next step for the NEA. In much of Europe private schools are either severely restricted or banned outright. Can't have people circumventing socialist propaganda can we?
Someone posted an article a few days ago reporting that Norway won't approve any more private schools.
"So in my simpleton way of thinking, parents that decide to educate their children at home or send them to a private school should be able to keep that portion of their payable taxes for education."
Another "simpleton" analogy would be to want money back for any road repairs that are done on streets you don't personally drive on.
NOT just the teacher unions. The administrative "unions" and the School Board "union" and the education school "unions" also have a vested interested in a monopoly of public educational dollars.
See post 94.
I don't know about that. I'd much rather teach calculus to 20 college-bound high schoolers than manage 20 2nd graders. One job takes a higher education, the other takes a higher energy level!
Aren't these the same doofuses that said Al Gore had won in 2000?
The government is not paying for private school tuition, it is giving the parents vouchers that they can spend at the school of their choice.
Your arguement is no different than saying people can't spend their tax refunds on certain things.
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