Reader comments
'Tricks' flayed by voucher foes

Methinks it would be extremely foolish to abolish a voucher program that allows us to take our children out of inferior schools that do not teach our own values to our children and the things we want them to learn and put them into a good private school of our own selection that does do those things for our children and us!

The entire Voucher program is bad business. They way to improve the school system is NOT to turn & run away from it.

Here is an idea! You don't like your local school, try entering the walls & spending time there to make it a better place. If people directed more attention to repairing the concerns, instead of turning their backs, would it not get better?

A flood of Volunteers in is better than an Exodus out.

Don't hesitate to take your child out, if that is what you want, but I don't want my tax dollars spent on a private school that doesn't offer all children services. Private schools usually don't offer their services to special needs children. Private schools expel students who get bad grades. I'm not saying they don't have the right to do that, but if that is what they choose to do, they shouldn't be able to get public money.

You don't need a voucher program to take your children out of 'inferior' schools. Charter schools are free. Magnet schools are free. Homeschooling is free. And you still have the option of private schools, even without vouchers.
Please stop pretending that without vouchers, you have no options. You've got plenty.

Brack,
Methinks it would be foolish not to recognize that you are allowed to do that already.

Brack,

Hopefully the school you pick will teach a few language skills. Maybe you should go too.

I think that supporting private schools of your own choice is the right thing to do. Vouchers will provide the way for parents to make that decision for their own children, it might even help lower the student to teacher ratio in the public schools.

I was at a Student-Parent-Teacher conference yesterday at a Jordan District middle school and was pretty suprised to see an anti-voucher table set up but no representation from the pro-voucher side. Both sides should have an equal chance and equal representation since this is a public election. The district should step up and make sure this happens.

Bracks comment is the #1 reason why we should NOT have vouchers. Let schools teach math,science, and english. Let PARENTS teach their own values at home, church or anyplace but government funded schools! I can see it now " Joseph Smith Elementary", "Warren Jeffs FLDS Intermediate School" or even " Saddams Taliban Middle School." If you want your children to go to a school that teaches your specific doctrinal beliefs then do it! Just not on my dime.

I already pay to educate you children. Why should I have to pay twice?

Jordan District is prohibited by law from making any �expenditures from public funds� or providing anything of value to influence the outcome of any election. U.C.A. �� 20A-11-1203(1), -1202(3) (defining �expenditure�), -1202(5)(a) (defining �influence�), and -1202(9)(a) (defining �public entity�). In other words, it is not only morally wrong for school districts and their subunits to utilize taxpayer funds and taxpayer-provided resources to peddle their point of view, it is a crime. Id. � 20A-11-1204.

All people need to do is read the voter info package. I would think anyone smart, after reading it, would vote for vouchers. The anti-voucher people are not encouraging people to read it. The voucher side is. Any wonder who is lying? The anti-voucher people are. Yes there are a few truths in their ads.. but the premise is wrong.

It is interesting how the Unions are the ones that are pushing the fight against vouchers. My children attend a Charter school that limits classroom size to 25 students, and requires parents to volunteer at the school every week. They teache music, orchestra, 3 languages, it is great! It is amazing how the local elementary school teachers, administrators, and school district personell take ever chance to criticize and denegrate our school. My sons friend at the local elementary school has 43 students in his class, and they are worlds behind my kids. When you consider that Charter schools only receive a fraction of the funds that regular elementary schools receive, and they have to PAY for their own buildings (they are not funded by bonds like regular schools) why would teachers, and administrators care? It is because the UNIONS do not get their PAYDAY from the non-unionized teachers. This is not about education, but the RICH union slugs getting their pay day!!!

I second Walkon.

Walkon, why so afraid of competing thoughts and values? Why should everything be so centralized when it comes to thoughts?

The voucher debate has mostly focused on economics though periodically people mention values. So all tax payers must support your values in school? That is what it boils down to. Why not decentralize and allow parents to choose what works best for them.

Just last night I became aware of a new charter school in the making that will have as its focus essentially extreme environmentalism. Everything about the school will be "green" to include integrating global warming, etc into all subjects. I personally think global warming is one of the great myths of our time; something that makes legislative votes for Jazz tickets look like going to church. And yet I support this school.

One of the greatest aspects of America has always been are diversity of thought. If I can support schools named Thomas Jefferson, Liberty, Reagan, etc based on independence of thought, why not an environmental school. I don't support their thoughts, but passionately their right to have them.

You force all of us to support your values, but fear others. For shame!

Yesterday at Cedar Ridge Elementary they were conducting SEP's. The PTA had anti-voucher materials being displayed. Two people from the district were consulted and determined it was ok. They did offer the pro-voucher person equal time.

She declined, believing it wasn't the right place to have a war.

Shame on ASD, the School and the PTA!

The law is crystal clear - both pro and anti-voucher groups have every right to advocate their cause inside a public school. Neither side is required to provide notice to their competition, nor must the school. All the school has to do is allow both sides to have access. Both sides have shared information in this way. Sorry - no conspiracy and no jail time on this one.

Unions thrive in a monopoly, they fail whenever there is competition. The public schools are held harmless with the voucher bill, why should they worry? Because public schools will be exposed, that's why. Exposed for being too expensive, inept, controlled by union values, controlled by federal dollars, controlled by everyone but the parents. This voucher bill is about giving parents control of their children's education--and the unions will never tolerate that!

One thing is for sure in this whole debate. If you are in favor of things remaining the same, vote against vouchers. If you are in favor of a change, vote for vouchers. It's that simple.

The real issue here is that someone is misrepresenting themselves. Not whether you are personally for or against vouchers. All public schools have received warning that both sides need to be offered table space. They don't have to be recruited, but if they ask it should be granted. Stop blaming the "union."