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.
Vouchers are necessary to give the kids from low income families the same opportunity.
If a tax credit was offered, only those that pay significant taxes would be credited $$$ to send their kids to a school of their choice.
The low income kids would be trapped in rotting public schools. With a voucher, those kids would have the same chance as other kids to get a quality education.
LOL. What are they trying to do, turn out graduates who are too stupid to vote? Never mind, they already did that, didn't they?
The only good thing that makes sense to do is abolish public education entirely.
The Florida public school system has been horrible for decades. So therein lies the caliber of thinking of the avg. Florida-born-and-bred voter.
If you take that one step further, logically, all the old people who don't even have kids in school can use the same reasoning for not paying into the system as well.
http://www.blaineamendments.org/states/states_files/FL.html
AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
State Constitutional Provision
- Fla. Const. art. 1, § 3: "There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety. No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."
RELEVANT CASES
State Courts
- Bush v. Holmes, 886 So. 2d 340 (Fla. App. 2004) (Florida District Court of Appeal held that the Florida school voucher program violated the Florida constitutional provision prohibiting public aid of sectarian schools because it gave an indirect benefit to sectarian schools).
- Scavella v. School Board of Dade County, 363 So. 2d 1095 (Fla. 1978).
- Southside Estates Baptist Church v. Board of Trustees, School Tax Dist. No. 1, In and For Duval County, 115 So. 2d 697 (Fla. 1959) (Florida Supreme Court held that permitting several churches to use various public school buildings on Sunday until the construction of their church buildings was complete did not violate the Florida constitutional provision prohibiting public aid of sectarian institutions).
- Fenske v. Coddington, 57 So. 2d 452 (Fla. 1952) (Florida Supreme Court held that the existence of a chapel for religious worship in the buildings of a public school did not violate the Florida constitutional provision prohibiting public aid of sectarian institutions, when the chapel was maintained with funds from a private trust).
- Taylor v. Dorsey, 155 Fla. 305 (1944).
REPEAL EFFORTS
- See the Heritage Foundation website for a list of state contacts.
It diverts public dollars into separate private systems parallel to and in competition with the free public schools that are the sole means set out in the Constitution for the state to provide for the education of Florida’s children.
That then limits the state to support education though public schools. But it does not limit the childrens' parents, who are free to send their kids to private schools that, as I believe correctly interpreted by the Florida Supreme Court, are free to operate, but not to get state money.
I agree with CD; I DO NOT want government involvement in the education of my child. However, my guess is the groups are involved because they fear LOSS of the control they have. There are definately two sides to this issue...and I don't know enough about it except to say:
Again, I dont want any children of mine in public schools
The ACLU has a leftist agenda
I would LOVE not to pay taxes on a public system I do not use.
"I agree with CD; I DO NOT want government involvement in the education of my child"
I dont get your post; I think vouchers should stay as a "refund" for people who pay public school taxes and want the option to send their kids to private school. How is that "govt involvement"??? Heck, its the public schools they run; at least going to private school or homeschool, you get to choose. CD is against vouchers. Getting vouchers does not mean you have to send your child where the govt says. And the govt does not come into the private school and teach things you might like in public school, such as evolution, parenting skills at age 14, etc.
Florida vouchers were given because the schools were so lousy.
LOOK!! at who is supporting the vouchers being removed!! Look and see!
To me, the Court's message is:
As far as we can tell, the state Constitution only allows the state to provide money to public schools. If you want the state to give money to private schools, change the state Constitution.
I happen to think that their interpretation of the Florida State Constitution to be quite reasonable. I don't fault the judges. I don't see that their logic is convoluted or wrong, despite the fact that their ruling may satsify groups whose objectives we may oppose. Making rulings on the basis of what you want to see in the law vs. what's actually in there has been the bane of the conservative cause for years. If there's strong support for this, the legislators should vote up an amendment and submit it to the voters (or however that's done in Florida).
Vouchers give parents who cant afford private schools that opportunity.
The ACLU has a leftist agenda
yet is the ACLU you are siding with...
I would LOVE not to pay taxes on a public system I do not use
...and getting vouchers is a way to recoup some of that money. As the NEA and others have figured out. Hence the SC's decision.
:') You don't consider "Secret Romances" literature?
Seriously, I think this is important, just not as important as you do. In college I majored in nursing and minored in biology. THat doesn't mean that I still didn't enjoy literature. Did I learn a lot of Greek and Latin roots? Brother, it was like a foreigh language:') I chose to take Texas history as elective instead though. My point being, teach the kids the basics and they will build on their foundation. If they don't learn basic reading and writing skills then Latin will alway be "Greek" to them.
Vouchers used to purchase services from a non-profit is not in any way aid. The same logic would mean that Medicaid could not pay the expenses of a patient in a catholic facility.
We tend to be a little harder to manage here:') There are occasional threats. I had one, when I took my son out. I told the social worker to go pound sand though.
Are these Justices high? What an absolutely total disrespect for the wording of the law. From the majority opinion:
In sum, article IX, section 1(a) provides for the manner in which the state is
to fulfill its mandate to make adequate provision for the education of Florida’s
children—through a system of public education. The OSP contravenes this
constitutional provision because it allows some children to receive a publicly
funded education through an alternative system of private schools that are not
subject to the uniformity requirements of the public school system. The diversion
of money not only reduces public funds for a public education but also uses public
funds to provide an alternative education in private schools that are not subject to
the “uniformity” requirements for public schools. Thus, in two significant
respects, the OSP violates the mandate set forth in article IX, section 1(a).
What a complete and total crock. First, they argue that those receiving vouchers are at a disadvantage from those in the 'uniform' [sic] system. Then they argue that those receiving vouchers cause those in the 'uniform' [sic] system to be disadvantaged. Leftists having it both ways again.
The darn thing about the old people around here is that they put an age exemption on taxes for these "goodies" It doesn't cost them anything so they usually vote yes for "improvements".
In some schools, some of which are far ahead of our American public schools, education begins with Greek and Latin. First grade, right out of the chute. They both read and write far better than we do. They don't make the elementary kind of error such as deriving universe from 'uni=single, verse=spoken sentence' as just happened on another thread. If nothing else, they can think correctly and in detail for themselves.
You disagree? Why?
Well, my little grandson is almost 6. He reads and writes (in cursive) and can do basic math. He's learning Spanish and is a Bible team leader. ( He and I are already talking about A&M and vet school:'). His mom gets a report each day when she picks him up. I feel like we are getting our money worth. When school starts back on Monday, I'm going to ask if they have a scholarship program and if not, will they start one. I don't believe it should be free though. The parent can do volunteer work for their part.
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