Florida's School Choice

The New York Times ^ | 6/23/02 | Gov. Jeb Bush

[walrus954]

To the Editor:

Re "Voucher Program Gets Failing Grade in Special Ed," by Richard Rothstein (Lessons column, June 19): It is most encouraging that a critic of school choice cites as his lone horror story the tale of Ramona Marsh, the Florida parent who transferred her special-needs child out of a private school — and into another private school!

Ms. Marsh illustrates that for the first time in our state, parents at all income levels now have options that for years have been accessible only to the very rich.

Indeed, another way we provide choice in Florida is through our corporate tax credit program, through which businesses receive tax credit for scholarships they finance for low-income children to attend private schools. So much for the claim that choice functions only as "a subsidy for the relatively affluent."

Her story also refutes the suggestion that the progress of students in private schools is not "monitored." It is monitored every day by parents like Ms. Marsh who clearly can be trusted to make the best choices for their special-needs children.

JEB BUSH

Governor

Tallahassee, Fla., June 21, 2002

[walrus954]

The editorial the governor responded to can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/19/education/19LESS.html

Keep up the writing, Governor

[walrus954]

FYI on Jeb's NYT Letter to the Editor this morning re: vouchers

Andrew

[KevinDavis]

I wish Jeb was the Pres and lived in Florida bump!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/703144/posts

crosslink bump.

[glc1173@aol.com]

At least Jeb is solid on social issues like school choice - unlike his brother.

Jorge Bush wimped out in the face of the NEA and Ted Kennedy. Jeb stood up to them. I hope Jorge announces he isn't running in 2004 "so he can spend more time with his family" - and I hope Jeb takes his place.

Jackboot Janet Reno's "girlfriend" - the issue she fears will hit Florida talk radio!

[yendu bwam]

Not allowing kids to find ways out of failed schools (and schools which have been failing for decades) is one of the most immoral stands ever taken by the Democratic party. Well, wait, I forgot about supporting partial birth abortion (murdering perfectly formed and healthy full term babies) and trying to force the Boy Scouts to put homosexual men in charge of (other people's) teenage boys on overnight camping trips, and forcing kids to take bilingual education against their parents' wishes, etc. etc. etc. But the most amazing part of this whole debate was when Clinton and Gore decided to send their own kids to private schools, while denying millions of others the same opportunity.

[summer]

Wow! Thank you so much for bumping me to this thread! I really appreciate. I was hoping he would write something -- and, he did! :)

[summer]

And, thanks for cross-linking that! :)

[summer]

Check out this letter from Gov Jeb Bush to the Editor of the NYT. The NYT article Jeb is referring to is linked in post #4 (see lower half of that 2-article post). And, please thank walrus954 for this wonderful post! :)

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the post!
Bush bump!

[Joe Brower]

[floriduh voter]

You get the NY Times? Good job, if it's strictly for research purposes. LOL Now I'll go read your fine post. Good find. Imagine that. The NYT is attempting to get involved in the Florida Governor's race. HMMMMMM.

[floriduh voter]

Someday, Jeb WILL be the POTUS and your humble fellow FR member lives in Florida. Will that do? FV

[floriduh voter]

I checked out the girlfriend url. And, it appears Bishop was seven degrees of separation from Sister McLaughlin who helped steal Elian from the arms of his Florida family. McLaughlin is a Castro sympathizer IMO. Wasn't that fairly well documented here at FR?

[floriduh voter]

Sorry I strayed off topic. Back on topic. Jeb, the journalist wonder...

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[floriduh voter]

Choice? I choose Jeb. BTTT

[walrus954]

Stritctly for research... what better way to find out what the dems are up to? Lol. I like the NYT most times (I just stopped reading the editorials... there's no reasoning witht those people), but I get on FR afterwards and they balance each other out.

Andrew

[summer]

As it turns out, the woman Rothstein wrote about -- who allegedly lost her chance to have her child continue in a private school on a voucher, after the private school raised it tuition -- in fact placed her child in yet another private school, again, on a voucher. Rothstein conveniently omitted that part, in addition to omitting other material FACTS (that I pointed out).

And, I agree with you earlier comment to me elsewhere -- the point that vouchers can be used for public schools as well is a point I wish had been made. I think Gov Bush should have added it to his letter, because obviously, not one person reading the NYT would ever know that fact about vouchers used for better public schools.

I don't think Rothstein would be inclined to "correct" his "mistakes" if I ever wrote to him, but I am hoping his editors passed along Gov Bush's pithy letter! :)

[summer]

you earlier = your earlier