[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Listen, public schooling is not a "handout". I can't believe that someone on this board could equate welfare with public education.

Take your tax return from last year. Check the total amount you paid in state taxes. Then call the local school board and ask how much they spent per child last year. For the average parent, the amount spent will dwarf the total state tax paid, not to mention the percentage of that money that actually gets sent to education. So someone else's money is getting taken from them in order to pay for your child's education. That's the definition of a "handout."

[ladylib]

My state pays about $12,000 per year per student and it's a total waste. My mother pays $8,000 a year in property taxes -- $4,000 of which goes to the public schools. She could take that $4,000 and pay some kid's tuition at the local Catholic school that does a much better job. She would probably prefer doing that then letting the government schools get it.

[twocents]

Take your tax return from last year. Check the total amount you paid in state taxes. Then call the local school board and ask how much they spent per child last year. For the average parent, the amount spent will dwarf the total state tax paid, not to mention the percentage of that money that actually gets sent to education. So someone else's money is getting taken from them in order to pay for your child's education.That's the definition of a "handout."

Actually, it isn't.

Handout:

1 : a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar
2 : a folder or circular of information for free distribution
3 : a prepared statement released to the news media