I was reading the City Paper (free weekly paper in Philadelphia) and they had an article about the NAACP's lack of support of the school voucher program. From what I understand, the voucher program provides grants for children (from mostly low-income households) to attend private, parochial or charter schools. The parents would decide which school that child would attend. The article reports that many African-American families strongly support the voucher program because it would give them the choice in where their child is being educated. According to the article, the NAACP doesnt support the program because it would take resources away from those children (who would be left in the public school system) who could not participate in the voucher program.
What is your opinion on this subject? Would you support a school voucher program?
Going halfway like is proposed now will only make the split between private and public schools even wider. The way I see it, this country needs to make a serious choice if it wants to reform the schools.
1)Make a concerted effort to rejuvinate teh public school system, prefferably by allocating some of that defense budget to teacher salaries and renovations.
2)Privatize the school system. Let private companies and individuals run the whole thing. Use the current education budget to provide full vouchers and partial scholarships to those that can't afford it. Everyone knows that private school education is better than the vast majority of public schools, so why not give that opportunity to everyone? And once schools are run for profit, they will be run much more efficiently. No more run down classrooms and underpaid/underqualified/overworked teachers. This also gives parents a choice as to what kind of education their childs recieves. It gives alternatives to the state-run system (which everyone knows teaches one point of view and not much else). Of course there would be some basic standardization and accredidation process (similar to how it's done for colleges and universities), which would make sure that students are prepared for life after school.
As you can probably gather, I'm for the second option. ---------------------------------------- Between me and every ideal I always find Scheisskopfs, Peckems, Korns, and Cathcarts. And that sort of changes the ideal. --Yossarian
-Let's not assume that private is better b/c from the kids I work with, ain't a hellava lot of difference. -I think that difference with many children comes in with parental (or some other adult) intervention. Does the parent play an active role in the child's education? -The private system is just as jacked up but we don't have to go that far to compare, let's compare public schools in different neighborhoods. let's look at a public school in the innercity or urban area vs. school in affluent areas. The latter is better. Or magnet schools vs. general study schools. -B/c I am anti- Brown vs. Board of Education I see vouchers as another slap in the face and means to band-aid the public school problem. -There was never a "desegregation" plan implemented by the government to desegregate school. Furtheremore, the court deciding that seperate could never be equal it was an insult implying that Black people couldn't educate our own kids and that we needed to be in the presence of a white child to attain quality education. That is some bullshit!!!!!!! -Let's deal with the problems and revolutionize Public Schools and stop putting these bandages on them. Vouchers are a joke as well charter schools. It's not ha ha funny but it is still a joke because it ain't reinventing the system just a means to quiet those that complain and bitch and once again we've taken the bait. -Question do you think private agencies would be more dedicated to our children or would it be some type of marketing ploy? -Sorry of the typos or grammatical errors Nappiness is next to Godliness!!! "To thy ownself be true" Ms. Nappiness
Parents need to be hipped as to understanding that it is their tax dollars and their choice as to what schools they can send their children to. Public education is available at more than just the neighborhood school. Magnet schools are just as accessible. Think about how hard it will be to get a child into a private or parochial school once a voucher system is in place. All parents would then want to send their children to such a school. Hemnce bringing about intense and prolly more controversial topics and problems in the education system than it is now.
"See....if you came with low expectations, you wouldn't of been disappointed with the results." Ave at the (Re)Union
Why? Let's take the state where I live--NY. In the city the per pupil spending by the city is approximately $6,700--this does not include the "extras" that the school district will receive--per child--if a majority of the kids in the school qualify for: school b'fast/lunch (more $)or if the child is designated as spec. ed (more $), and theres more extras. What's the problem with vouchers? You best believe the city offering the voucher isn't giving the parent a voucher for $6,700 (or greater). In NYC many parents have quickly taken their children out of private/parochial schools and placed them back in public schools b/c the city has given parents vouchers for like $3,500. That means if a child's private school tuition is $7,000 per year, and the parent has a $3,500 voucher--do the math, the parent foots the rest of the bill. From the school district's perspective, they've gotten a child out of their school system, and they've only given a PORTION of the dollars that they receive from the parent. For them its a win-win situation. For parents--its completely a losing situation.
5. "Yes and no for reason...." In response to Reply # 0
Because well I live in Baltimore and I think the voucher would be a very good decision because in alot I mean the vast majority of these schools aren't teaching shit but what we could learn out on the strip. But at the same time I think Public schools can be waaaaaaaaayyyyyy much better than what they are. I will admit the elemantry schools here are very good here. But when u step into middle school and High school it just seem like we are livin off material that my mom took back in school and that was 18 years ago or more. I mean if public schools started to get better curriculum lesson plans to teach the students, then public schools would be the first choice for everyone. But don't run from the problem and take the first offer. Fight for a change and don't give up. But if you do that and u feel as though a voucher is necessary than more power to it.
6. "No and here's why..." In response to Reply # 0
If there is money available to provide vouchers for certain kids to go to school then that means that there is a source of capital that can be used to improve the state of the public school system. Vouchers don't solve the problem. The problem is a lack of funding and a lack of support for the public school system. That is what needs to be addressed. Why allow a few kids a chance for a better education and leave the majority of them with nothing??
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, in the clear."---Keith's Philosophies on Life
"It ain't about the muscles if you know how to use the knuckles."---my little sister
"Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap the fool upside the head..."---anonymous
Look over to your left...yeah, up in the corner. As a suggestion, you may want to take two.
I am a parent of a 5 year old son. He will start kindergarten this fall. We live across the street from the public school he would have attended. Let me tell you why he's not going there. 1. During the day you can here the PA system on the block, the principal sounds very ghetto. 2. The children he plays with on the block attend the school they are older than my son, yet he knows his abc's , numbers, colors, how to write, add ,subtract and read the don't. These children range from age 6 - 8 they should know as much as he does and then some. My son would be bored and unmotivated, because he would be ahead of all the other children. 3. The school district of Philadelphia has a $30,000,000.00 deficit to deal with. Art and music programs will be cut. 4. The book situation is horrible. Most of the text books are outdated. 5. Bad ass little kids. Last month a 7 y.o was dropped from a third floor window and shattered both of his legs. 6. I can go on, but I think this enough for me.
okay say you have 45 seats in pub school okay, and 25 in private okay... well what happens when you try to put 45 people in 25 seats. it doesn't happen. the key is to vastly improve the places that are jacked up. my 2cents.
June... Reunion Quotes
'Vet I don't know why people think you're mean, you really are sweet.' - Poetisa
"my fam is worldwide" - me
to hak "you better keep little weasel put away" - me
"Vet give me head before we go." - Phoul
Quotes begin here------
Cracker-ass frog! (The brown toad to the green frog)- You see, my brotha, those white froggy-devils got us bamboozled and hoodwinked. Those white-devils have been deceiving amphibians since we were the kings of the ponds. THey always taking our flies from us. Sure, they may have us thinking they are saying "ribbit", but under their breath, they are really saying "niggit,....niggit." - WISE
"its all love with me.....stop the estrogenly charged bull shit and elevate sistahs" - nebbie
okay im nice to ya im nice to ya cuz nobody else is that doesnt mean i wantcha panties people! - Goldenwon (see u made it)
my fam is worldwide - Vet (on the drive home from the (re)union)
Police "YOU THOUGHT PRIMO HAD BEATS?!?!?" - P!
It's alright because it's all about pieces of paper with numbers printed front and back /But the most valuable paper to me is my notebook and nigga I got stacks and stacks - Spread
(in response to would u give one of your favorite artist head) HELL NAW...for one thing just cause they're famous doesn't mean they're clean and I'm not about to drink some AIDS juice just to say I gave a star some head. Ya-Ya
a wise man once said/an eye for an eye/leaves everybody blind/i’ve always listened/but today i’ve grown deaf/eye for an i/i/am preparing to go to war/but i can’t see to find my sword - incogx
But what kind of genetically engineered cyborg are you to remember what you were doing at age 1?!? - Ornery
skidmarks. they're not just for underwear anymore. - crash bandicoot
'i feel you like, tomaz zamot ya know' - donwill
yardicus: hey don't laugh! I can rock the hell out a miniskirt and some "hooker heels..."
just think/just think/ what if you could just/just blink your tag - Black Thought HOB 99
bAttlin me is like some KEDS tryna mess wit NEW BALANCES.. -Sporatic
dick hed mcs, wit dem flacid, phalic soundin subjects- one of those jail urine roach xylophone nukkas (jurx-donwill)
...she had a body like a cello with legs i mean the ass was absurd long neck smooth skin pretty face cookie nipples eyes wide as her hips full lips between dimples
Vouchers or not, the problem with the public school system is half-assedness. Period.
I like the idea of vouchers if it is intended to serve the least among us. In Cali, we're voting on a bill in November (Draper Voucher Initiative) that proposes that all kids be entitled to $4,000 a year to pursue the education of their choice. Problem is that rich, poor and middle class alike get that money. I know middle class and upper class folks hate the idea of their tax dollars going to support the poor, but if they really want a country where "liberty and justice for all" prevails, then the only option is to do everything possible to educate ALL of the populace. I guess I'm in favor of tiered socialism for public education (if that s something that can be said).
---I'm here---
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""Son, how many times do I have to tell you? You're not Jesus..."---Jimmy Kimmel
10. "RE: School Vouchers: Yes or No?" In response to Reply # 0
I agree...NO: the voucher program is simply a quick fix, the flaws tremendously out-weigh the positive aspects. Giving up on public schools is just an easy escape from responsibility and improvement. Plus i dont think Tom Ridge is going for it (he sends his kids to catholic schools instead of the neighborhood public schools, by the way)
12. "Truthfully Im torn..." In response to Reply # 0
Ive seen the results of kids who go through the public school system good and bad. To me its about the parental involvement in the child's education. Im a product of the public school system and my mom was VERY involved with my education. Many parents today that complain about the public school system dont even check their children's homework! Its about personal responsibility and being involved. You cant complain if you havent done anything to try to fix the problem.
On the other hand, I feel that maybe the voucher program can give low-income families an option that they never had. The lure of private, parochial and charter schools is strong with their small pupil to teacher ratio, flexibility and academic standards. The vouchers maybe good for some children and not for others, but I think dialouge needs to be had on the subject.
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