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More on an important and timely topic.

The decision on vouchers must rest on what we know of history.

Government money comes with a price: government control.

It is, indeed, a slippery slope.

Although currently parents have to fork over additional dough to send their kids to private school (in addition to their property taxes for public schools), they don't have to worry about government-imposed curricula, teacher "standards," etc.

We opted to pay for our kids' private education - and are happy we did.

This 5-4 decision allows Cleveland, Ohio parents to use federal education money, otherwise known as vouchers, to send their children to private (and religiously-based) as well as public schools

Where is there Federal funding of any voucher program? Correct me if I am wrong, but this case centered on the question of whether or not Cleveland could operate a voucher program without Federal interference. There was a 1st amendment challenge which was defeated. There is no new source of funds here; there is simply a change in how those funds are used.

Vouchers are a chit given to parents who meet whatever requirements are stipulated by the state or local authority. That chit is cashed in at any school that will accept it. I think that is basically how it works. These are local and state programs.

It is true that the President favors Federal funding of voucher programs, but this was left out of his Education plan. As far as I know, there is no Federal funding of any voucher program. If I am wrong, someone can let me know. Or maybe this is just more lewrockwell rot.

Let’s do some quick arithmetic. With roughly 53.1 million school-age children, suppose there was a voucher of $3,000 for each child. That would add $159.3 billion per year to the federal education budget and make it five times what it is now! A libertarian who would expand instead of contract the federal budget? Surely something is amiss here.

I agree with your take on vouchers. Once the government gets in the door with vouchers, the private schools will have to put up with a lot of restrictions...in curriculum, scheduling, independence from testing, admissions/suspensions, etc.

And, now there is another layer...the federally mandated testing that GWB wanted and got.

Another point. Teacher's associations are pretty powerful and pretty grabby. I don't believe for one minute that this $3,000 will come from local budgets. It will just be another huge federal expense. Education, like most programs, works best when they're close to the people being affected. And with this, big brother is at it again!