Posted on 07/05/2002 6:49:32 AM PDT by capecodder
I'm sure you also read all the way thru it, and saw the many references to "scholarship" within. It is a scholarship program, not a voucher program.
Not once are vouchers tied to it or referenced within it.
The voucher program in the State of Florida, the State I have lived all of my life in, has a voucher program called "Opportunity Scholarship Program". I know what the words say, but that IS the State voucher program.
The word "voucher" is not used because, well, just look at the responses the mere mention of the word evokes from both sides.
For all you voucher naysayers, has it ever occurred to you how huge this ruling was for our side and how detrimental it was for the teachers' unions? We get a victory and I'll be doggone if we hurry up and throw it away. Political understanding is not very high on our side. But keep up the mantra. I'll work to marginalize the negativity because this is huge for us, even if some of us can't seem to get their minds around it.
The private school must include in its school profile the percentage of teachers who hold regular Florida teaching certificates.
Teaching certificates are for kindergarten, elementary and high school teachers. "Scholarships" are for colleges. I know the wording may be confusing, but the fact that they speak of teaching certificates, it should be easy to realize this is not a college scholarship program.
Like we posted, this is the official title of the program. Yes, the word "scholarship" implies other things, but I can't help that.
And on a tangent: I think everyone should have to pay something to send their kids to school. People usually care a little more about something when they have to pay for it, and having to pay, even for public school, might make parents a little more attentive to it. It's like if you have to buy a car for yourself, which most of us do, you usually are rather quick to phone the dealer if it breaks down all the time.
When something's free, you don't expect much from it. I think free school should rank right up there with a free school lunch - should be means tested.
Or did I miss the right to a free education somewhere in the Bill of Rights?
I was home schooled for all but two of my school years. I attended public school for kindergarten and a small private school for 12th grade so I could have an accredited diploma.
No kids. But I am planing on home schooling for at least the first few years.
a.cricket
As I pointed out, all private schools, even home schools, are subject to many regulations already. I ask you if you can cite a time when money was provided by the government without strings attached? So there will be more regulation.
Has the regulation of grocery stores become worse since the introduction of food stamps? Perhaps....but this I don't see how this anything to do with food stamps per se.
Food stamps carry strings for the users, not the providers for the most part. That is why the analogy is flawed. AS far as the stores go, the regulations on the stores have become worse (increased cost to the stores for bookkeeping, etc) but not in a big enough way to make a point about it.
Vouchers are just are parents keeping their school tax money. How can government regulate tax rebates? Do they regualte tax refunds now?
Recognizing this, as others pointed out above, most private schools in Florida have opt-ed out of the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program on the basis of it being too intrusive.
Clearly, Florida private schools, constitutionally already have fairly wide latitude in their academic and admission standards and fee structure.
The recent SCOTUS ruling that 'vouchers' are also constitutional may give Florida legislators the basis to remove some of their existing restrictions, at which point Florida's private schools may then begin to opt-in.
Bottom line, yes Florida has an intrusive 'voucher' program, but private schools may opt out as they choose. They are not hurt by vouchers, just Florida parents are hurt in that they still don't get the full benefit of free choice, in Florida, yet.
Incorrect, otherwise they would just send money.
How can government regulate tax rebates?
A tax rebate and a voucher are not the same thing, that is why they have different names.
Do they regualte tax refunds now?
Not a refund either.
Why not give everyone who pays for a child's education a tax CREDIT? 100%
Makes more sense doesn't it?
You see in the end, the control is still there. I don't see the govt or nea ever giving up control once they get it.
Alaska is a pretty conservative place with lots of rural people off the road system. Homeschooling is natural up here, but still there are parameters set down that must be followed.
Someone mentioned a simple tax deduction for private educational expenses. That is a much better direction. The more complex the system the more room for govt control and corruption.
I teach high school and face the govt sinking their teeth into every aspect of education on a daily basis. I believe their ultimate goal is to federalize education and all the mind control that will bring to our children. They are accomplishing their curriculum controls through standards, benchmarks, and legislation anyway.
Private schools now have much more freedom than they will after vouchers. A simple tax deduction would be better.
April 17, 2002
Assembly Bill 6916: Education Tax Credit
Summary:
This is a tax credit bill for educational expenses, including home instruction. It would apply to families whose adjusted gross income is less than $100,000. Depending on the family's income, the credit ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. It would go into effect on January 1, 2002.
Status: This bill was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on March 6, 2001. The Committee amended it on June 14, 2001, and again on June 20, 2001. The bill currently remains in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
HSLDA's Position: HSLDA supports tax credits for home schooling families, so long as no additional restrictions are added to the home instruction law.
No, the food stamp didn't result in government regulation of supermarkets... but have we forgotten that government aid to colleges, and to college students in the form of loans and grants, has been used to justify thoroughgoing regulation of colleges, in particular as regards admissions policies and student racial classifications?
There is danger here. Watch the educrats' unions. If they ever cease to oppose school choice directly, their next move will strike at the choice program's point of greatest vulnerability: the place where there's leverage by which to re-establish educrat control. That's how we'll know where the political weak point is.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
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