Posted on 01/05/2006 1:45:36 PM PST by fuyb
The Florida Supreme Court struck down a statewide voucher system Thursday that allowed children to attend private schools at taxpayer expense - a program Gov. Jeb Bush considered one of his proudest achievements.
It was the nation's first statewide voucher program.
In a 5-2 ruling, the high court said the program violates the Florida Constitution's requirement of a uniform system of free public education.
About 700 children are attending private or parochial schools through the program. But the ruling will not become effective until the end of the school year.
Voucher opponents had also argued that the program violated the separation of church and state in giving tax dollars to parochial schools, and a lower court agreed. But the state Supreme Court did not address that issue.
Under the 1999 law, students at public schools that earn a failing grade from the state in two out of four years were eligible for vouchers to attend private schools.
Chief Justice Barbara Pariente said the program "diverts public dollars into separate private systems parallel to and in competition with the free public schools," which are the sole means set out in the state constitution for educating Florida children.
The ruling was a victory for public schools across the state and nation, said Ron Meyer, lead attorney for a coalition that challenged the voucher program.
"Students using vouchers will now be welcomed back into Florida public schools," Meyer said in a statement. "It decides with finality that the voucher program is unconstitutional."
The governor had no immediate comment on the ruling.
Anticipating the possibility of such a decision, Bush has been working on a backup plan to keep voucher students in private schools by providing tax credits to corporations that give students scholarships.
Clark Neily, an attorney who argued the case for voucher advocates, called the decision "a setback for those parents and children trapped in failing schools."
The U.S. Justice Department filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support the state. Voucher opponents included the state teachers union, the Florida PTA, the NAACP and the League of Women Voters.
The ruling did not directly affect nearly 30,000 students in two other voucher programs for disabled and poor children, but it could be cited as a precedent.
I'm not going to apply this to anyone else's area, just my own. I do favor several options for high school especially.
As for this case, I probably don't think it should it should be thrown out. But that's all I will say about it. My battles are elsewhere.
Ah, but that is not true. Everyone has choices. And when you make poor choices in life, you suffer the consequences. And that is no one else's fault but your own.
You have a choice whether or not you want to do well in high school. You have a choice whether or not you want to have children out of wedlock, or at a young age. You have a choice whether or not you go to college, or work hard to get a scholarship to do so. You have a choice in your education, you have a choice in your lifestyle. Everyone in this country has the freedom to choose how and where they live. It is only a matter of how hard you are willing to work. That is what makes this country great. Everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Some choose not to do so. I do not buy this "less fortunate" routine. As if the choices I made were just luck? Not so.
How would you explain all of the people in this country who grew up dirt poor, on welfare, in the projects, who worked hard so that they could be successful? I think Thomas Sowell might disagree with your premise, as well as every other American who worked hard, made good choices, and reaped the benefits.
hillary's "it takes a village" book is nonsense
Of course it is. That is why I used it as an example.
Now everyone just kneel before your black-robed kings and be nice little subjects, would ya?
"I suggest we give them all $10,000 and let the parents chose and call it a day."
"If the state is going to subsidize those parents and provide them something that they are unable or unwilling to pay for themselves then what is next? Will the state provide $10,000 for health care? A better home? A new car?"
You do make a valid point that maybe the government should not be redistributing wealth by educating children. However, I am not that extreme a think that all children should have access to a decent education
Lay all your concerns to rest because you are using extremes and misconceptions put out buy the msm, the teacher unions and the NEA. These schools can not discriminate any more than the public schools can. Most private and Charter schools out perform public schools on all levels and deal with your concerns instead of turning a blind eye. For example here is a study from Harvard and The National Bureau of Economic Research on charter schools. http://www.wacharterschools.org/learn/studies/HoxbyCharters_Dec2004.pdf
Overall the study showed a 5.2% increase in reading and 3.2% math for charter schools. However vouchers and Charter schools are a growing trend and the longer these schools have been in business the proficiency figures go up. For example the study showed those schools in question that were open for 9 to 11 years had an increase of 10.1% in the category of reading at about 40% of the funding.
That’s right! Instead of paying that $7,500 into a failing system you can get a better education for your child at $3,000. However, instead of cutting funding to $3,000 lets find the best schools for the $7,500 you are already spending.
Here are some more studies.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp81.pdf
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp67.pdf
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp66.pdf
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp86.pdf
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Education/wm710.cfm
Children do not have choices on their own. They can't move out of the inner city if that's where their parent chooses to live. And if they don't get an education, their choices in life are always limited.
Thomas Sowell was lucky enough to grow up in a time when public schools actually did educate children. And he certainly does write strongly in support of educational choice. Do you remember his book "The Quest for Cosmic Justice"? Much of that is about the failure of our public education system. It also discusses how children in these environments are led toward poor choices.
Adults who had a good education and good role models as children are definitely responsible for their own choices. Too many children in this country don't get either.
Briefs & Other Documents in Case No. 04-2323 ...
http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/.../04/04-2323/index.html
just a thought ....
what if everyone kept their kid out of public school for 1 day .. perhaps that would get some attention.
I know the thought strikes fear into the heart of our local superintendent.
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