Vouchers would solve the problem. It would take the kids who want to learn away from the troublemakers. Also, if someone had a voucher to get into a private school that required discipline and behavior the parents and child would be motivated to perform because they would have something to lose if they didn't. They could get kicked back to the public school. Give every parent a voucher, even home schooled kids, of half the amount of money being spent per child now. Current school spending is often over 10,000 per child. In one fell swoop we could cut property taxes, and give our children a better education. Of course, we would have to maintain some sort of public school for the kids who can't cut it in private school or who still don't want to learn, but the threat of being sent back to public would cause a lot of kids and parents to keep their little darlings in line.
One of the reasons I supported GW the first time was his stand on vouchers. I was more disgusted than you can know when he rolled over for the dems on this.
NOTHING would improve the public schools like competition.
You would see corporations lining up to create centers for learning. Parents would spend school vouchers at this market place where excellence would be expected/guaranteed. There have been some experiments with vouchers but only to prove the idea unworkable and/or unAmerican. Both excuses only further the NEA's protection of their hold on the public school system. When taxpayer's demand that at least half of education money is spent to give family's this choice, vouchers will work.
I can see a place for the excellent teacher in this system. Those teachers who are wholly depending on the protection of the NEA will be left behind.....realize now that the public school system commands that: NO TEACHER is LEFT BEHIND.
Only to create a new one. Once you start handing out vouchers, all education (for all intents and purposes) comes under government funding and, thus, under government control. Those who want vouchers have nothing but the best of intents, but if they ever come to pass, we will rue the day they did. If you doubt me, think of one acronym: ACLU.