When the government starts providing money to private schools they will want to run them. Then you have publics schools. JMO. I know people that make minimum wage that send their kids to private school. It's possible, if it's a priority.
That's the worst case scenario, in which a percentage of schools would most likely refuse gov't funding, and we'd revert to the present system.
But this won't happen. Parents with opposing beliefs who are currently pitted against each other for control of their assigned gov't school would, under a voucher system, join forces in opposition to onerous governmental regulations.
I fully support vouchers, but do not doubt that as they gain popularity and wide spread use that the governments providing them will start to exert power and control over the institutions running them. Always happens.
They "rule" them now. Private schools must provide a basic education regardless of public monies or not........
I agree with your fear that the government will use the "hook" of money to change the character of private schools by mandating certain things. Also, maybe there is something to be said for private schools being so effective in part because the parents are so motivated.
What's the solution, then, I ask myself? Home schooling? De-funding public education altogether? I throw up my hands in frustration, at no one in particular . . .
My daughter's school has scholarships available for families that can't afford the tuition.
With government money comes government control. Sure as the day follows the dawn.
I've heard that argument before, and it sounds entirely reasonable, but the track record of federal Pell grants being used for private colleges shows that it's not necessarily true.
"I know people that make minimum wage that send their kids to private school."
That would be some trick.