Posted on 07/02/2002 6:24:03 PM PDT by greydog
DALLAS (AP) - The way Kay Johnson sees it, if public school parents want to send their children to private schools, that's fine. She adds one detail. "They should pay for it," says the Spanish teacher from Oconto, Wis.
Teachers gathering this week for the National Education Association's annual conference criticized last week's Supreme Court ruling that declared Cleveland's voucher program constitutional, saying such programs, if adopted nationwide, would hurt public schools.
"That is money that is earmarked for public education," said Cheryl Parker, a librarian in El Reno, Okla.
Noting that public schools accept all students, she and others said many private schools in her area don't accept children who are disabled or have disciplinary problems.
The Supreme Court last Thursday upheld the constitutionality of Cleveland's voucher system, saying it does not put the government in the position of sponsoring religious indoctrination - even though more than 95 percent of the vouchers are used to subsidize Catholic or other religious schooling.
Critics, including teachers unions, say vouchers drain money from public schools and too often end up supporting religious schools. Both the NEA and the smaller American Federation of Teachers have vowed to defeat voucher proposals nationwide.
Late Tuesday, National PTA President Shirley Igo addressed the teachers' group, saying her organization would join "in strong opposition" to vouchers.
In his keynote speech in Dallas Tuesday, NEA President Bob Chase called the Supreme court's 5-4 ruling "dubious," also invoking Supreme Court rulings on segregation.
"Because the Court can say that vouchers are constitutional - just as the Court for 60 years said that segregated schools were constitutional - that does not make it right," he said. "And it certainly does not make it wise public policy."
President Bush on Monday told a crowd in Cleveland that the high court "gave a great victory" to students nationwide.
"It is a constructive approach to improving public education," Bush said. "We're interested in aiming toward excellence for every child, and the voucher system is a part of the strategy."
Bush suggested that the decision is as significant as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., the case that integrated the nation's schools.
"The Supreme Court, in 1954, declared that our nation could not have two education systems, ... one for African-Americans and one for whites," Bush said. "Last week, what's notable and important, is that the court declared that our nation will not accept one education system for those who can afford to send their children to a school of their choice and for those who can't. And that's just as historic."
While campaigning for president, Bush proposed vouchers of up to $1,500 for students in poorly performing schools. Congress blocked the effort and Bush earlier this year signed an education overhaul that gives students at such schools federal funds for extra tutoring or transportation to another public school.
Bush has also proposed a $2,500-per-child tax credit for families whose children attend private schools instead of failing neighborhood public schools.
Teresa Barbour, a middle school counselor in Guthrie, Okla., said teachers would support vouchers if public schools got the money they deserved.
"There's not a teacher that wouldn't be saying, 'Yeah, go for it.' But we're not fully funded,'" she said.
She said vouchers, if enacted in Oklahoma, would likely kill the state's class-size law, which requires elementary school classes of no more than 20 students.
"Vouchers come into play, they can throw that out the door," Barbour said.
While rejecting vouchers, the teachers weren't afraid to support other religious issues. Days after a federal appeals court in California declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because it contains the phrase "one nation under God," the NEA's 9,000 delegates recited the pledge in their opening ceremony. When they got to the phrase, the teachers yelled "under God," and applauded loudly at the end.
AAhhh, AAAAHhhhhh, AAuugg
I'm starting to see bugs crawling on me, bats in the windows licking thier chops,and some teacher named Teresa Barbour telling me what's best for our kids (as opposed to her tenure and contract).
Teresa should be careful what she wishes for... The Public School in my town has been in academic emergency for 4 years straight... Someone owes me some money back if we are going on what is "DESERVED"!!!
Yes, and in a related headline...
Candlestick Makers Criticize the Sun
She is reading off the anti voucher talking points card the NEA supplies their shills.
Our MILWAUKEE public schools do not accept all students either. Those with documented discipline problems are shunted to alternative schools (dumping grounds) and those with particular disabilities have to go to other schools set up to handle their particular need--not every local public school is set up to handle all.
Also, every kid with a disability, public or private school, is under the Federal Child Disability act and has to be handled according to the act. Many private schools will take some disabled if they have the proper facilities.
Noting that public schools accept all students, she and others said many private schools in her area don't accept children who are disabled or have disciplinary problems.OK, so what's the problem with that? The private schools accept students who want to learn. Sounds like a fit to me.
Critics, including teachers unions, say vouchers drain money from public schools and too often end up supporting religious schools. Both the NEA and the smaller American Federation of Teachers have vowed to defeat voucher proposals nationwide.The NEA and AFT are the only ones that would truly lose in this situation. The schools, both public and private would have to compete for students, much as colleges have to now. The competition would, as is has in the business world, force those schools to upgrade their resources and facilities; to make more effective use of their resources. Of course, the unions would end up going the way of the dinosaurs, simply becuase the schools would not be able to afford to put up with them.
Late Tuesday, National PTA President Shirley Igo addressed the teachers' group, saying her organization would join "in strong opposition" to vouchers.What you bet Ms. Igo is also a teacher?
"Because the Court can say that vouchers are constitutional - just as the Court for 60 years said that segregated schools were constitutional - that does not make it right," he (NEA President Bob Chase) said. "And it certainly does not make it wise public policy."Just like the state representative in Pennsylvania comparing voter reform laws to Jim Crow laws, this myrmadon wants to take this in a racial direction. And by using race, he draws the line: GOP bad, Dems good. We've got to find a solid way to erase that line.
Teresa Barbour, a middle school counselor in Guthrie, Okla., said teachers would support vouchers if public schools got the money they deserved.What does Ms. Barbour mean "deserved?""There's not a teacher that wouldn't be saying, 'Yeah, go for it.' But we're not fully funded,'" she said.
She said vouchers, if enacted in Oklahoma, would likely kill the state's class-size law, which requires elementary school classes of no more than 20 students.
"Vouchers come into play, they can throw that out the door," Barbour said.
Not only that, she insists that class size would be affected. I'm sorry, but she not only comes off half-cocked, but she has no empirical evidence to support her position. She is doing the same thing that the other union members are doing: trying to protect their turf.
The teachers' unions are relics, and they serve no purpose but to fatten their own wallets, at the expense of our children.
"That is money that is earmarked for public education," said Cheryl Parker...
No, that money is earmarked for education. The goal is to educate kids, and what matters is what's best for them, not what's best for teachers or public schools.
"Because the Court can say that vouchers are constitutional - just as the Court for 60 years said that segregated schools were constitutional - that does not make it right," he said. "And it certainly does not make it wise public policy."
Easily the most outrageous and inflammatory thing in the article. Equating vouchers with segregation is despicable.
...if public schools got the money they deserved.
"There's not a teacher that wouldn't be saying, 'Yeah, go for it.' But we're not fully funded,'" she said.
What unadulterated nonsense. As far as the NEA is concerned, no level of funding for education is high enough. Whining "we're not full funded" is a safe strategy for them because in their minds they will never be fully funded.
She said vouchers, if enacted in Oklahoma, would likely kill the state's class-size law, which requires elementary school classes of no more than 20 students.
This is preposterous! How can removing students from the system result in bigger classes? No wonder our children aren't learning math - apparently the teachers don't know it!
Besides, voucher programs typically don't take out all of the money spent on a student - the public schools still get to keep some of it, even though they are no longer teaching that student. So the public schools actually end up with more money to spend per pupil. There is no reason whatsoever that vouchers would affect class sizes.
Ms. Barbour had best be careful about what she wishes for.
She may get it...
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
What pi$$es me off is I still have to pay for everyone else's kids
LOL, I was wondering why it took so long.
The parents of the socially/emotionally disturbed child tend to blame the school for their child's dysfunction. They never consider the fact that the child's mother was a crack/heroin/booze addict while the child was conceived and born. They never look at the family and the massive problems found therein. They never look at the real cause of this child's future institutionalization and burden to society.
I have seen such parents send their children to local christian schools. The local private school is there with open arms until they see this child has massive problems; that they would rather not deal with. The public school system doesn't have that luxury. I have seen many such cases, and the child comes back to the self-contained classroom in the regular elementary school. Alternative schools only handle a small percentage of problem students.
Like it or not, the public school has to deal with all the less fortunate students out there in our society. The cost concerning education of such students dwarfs regular ed. Discipline is a major problem in school. It all starts in the home. What is the answer? Not as simple an issue that vouchers or privatization will solve.
Had my eyes opened also once I started teaching. Much more complex that I ever realized. But one thing for sure; you will see education federalized long before it is privatized. Once the fed's control education, the entire group (academics,ed industry, nea,politicals) all in cahoots with each other win big. The govt will then control the content of education in ways you cannot imagine. You all should take a look at standards & benchmarks (not just academic). Once the govt gets the ball rolling, they will destroy private schools with standards. You should read the hogwash that you will find in your state standards booklets. Anyway, go back to your local school and look around. You'll leave with opened eyes too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.