Reader comments
Poll shows vouchers losing by wide margin

If the actual election results support the poll results, it would say something big about how our State Legislature may not be in touch with the general public. It that's the case, then maybe the state legislators either need take the time to listen more carefully to the voters or perhaps it's time that they be voted out of office for wasting the time and effort on this issues, instead on focusing on more important issues that deserve their attention.

Yea

It appears that taxpayers have been continuously misled about our public schools. For example, consider the recently-released public salary information for Granite District (yes the district whose logo shows an educator and child giving each other "five," but the child has no head). Of the 4805 full-time employees, 1496 of them make between $40.13 and $105.50 per hour. Many of the teachers are listed again (sometimes twice) as hourly employees (extra period, etc.) making as much as $49.93 per hour, so their total income is even higher than it appears at first blush. There are even bus drivers making $33.86 per hour. True, some teachers (presumably just beginning their careers) make only $31,604 (base salary), but about 400 of their colleagues make twice that. One third grade teacher at Westbrook Elementary reportedly makes $89.93 per hour.

It begs the question whether one can believe what those in public education say about vouchers.

Vouchers are going down and here is why I'm voting against them:

If the state has money to throw at a program like vouchers then they haven't been honest with public education. The legislature could have spent that money on our public schools (not to mention the money wasted on the election and advertising), benefiting all of Utah's children. Instead they try to hold it back and save it for their pet projects.

We don't want vouchers. We don't want that money to go to only a few of Utah's children. We want good teachers and good public schools. We are tired of the games. There is plenty of money that should be getting to our local schools and teachers.

Please send it there. NOW!

I take the poll numbers as a good sign. We certainly need to address issues in the public education system, but the voucher law is, in my opinion, a massive error.

Actually we need vouchers. How many children who excel in math or science are left to their own devices when teachers focus on the central group of children? In Granite District, our child was told to go play on the computer during his entire 1st grade because he got all his work done early. The teacher focused on the students in the middle or falling behind. We were told by the teacher that district policy is to teach to the center, those at grade level.

As a parent, it is hard to hear your 6-year old come home and say he spent a good part of his day on the computer because "there was nothing to do. I got my work done."

It's why I am for vouchers and why I am for splitting districts. The old way of teaching children is bureaucratic red tape and failing despite throwing gobs of money at public education. Splitting and vouchers will help a failing institution. Without these two benefits for the children, we have nothing to hope for.

I wonder what the numbers will do. Will they energize people to get out and vote or will they say it's a done deal and people will stay home. I know I'm not staying home. I'm voting NO on Referendum 1. There is no way I want to take anything for granted. I believe in public schools and don't want to see anything take away money from the schools. People already have "Choice" when it comes to schools and I don't want my tax dollars going to support there choice. If you are truly concerned about your child's education, you'll get involved and either work with the teacher, change teachers, change schools in the district, change schools in another district, look at a charter school, home school or even pay the money for a private school. So for me it's not about the polls, it's about my vote. It's not about all the problems, it's about what is right or wrong and vouchers are wrong. It's not about public vs. private schools, it's about the state's responsibility to education and accountability for taxpayer dollars.

The only supporters of vouchers I've ever seen are just people who want TAX dollars for THEMSELVES. No tax-subsidized welfare for RICH people. Lets FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS and build opportunity for ALL CHILDREN! Our arrogant legislators (who have been purchased for $500,000 in campaign donations from Parents for Choice pro-voucher cronies) just want to give OUR TAX DOLLARS to their buddies. It was the same legislators who gave our tax dollars to Dave Checketts -- their crony -- for his loser soccer stadium. Let's vote OUT every legislator who voted for vouchers and ELECT Legislators who: (1) listen to us; (2) don't give our tax dollars to their rich cronies; and (3) will INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THEY WILL BE EXCELLENT!

Misled:

You are assuming teachers only work when they are in front of the class. How about all of the prep work and the time spent grading assignments. I live by my neighbor school and am amazed at how many of the teachers are their by 6:30 in the morning.

I was volunteering in my sons kindergarten class where one student was falling behind. The teacher out of her own pocket pulled several activities out a bag to try to help the child.

How about calculating a lawyer's hourly wage by the time they spend in the courtroom, or a professional basketball player's hourly wage by the time they spend on the court.

I wouldn't want a lawyer representing me who had spent no time preparing, just as I don't want a teacher instructing my children who has spent no time preparing.

Where else do you need a college degree for such low paying job. $31,000, no thanks. I made that much in my second year out of college, and that was 20 years ago!

I had a wonderful Calculus teacher in high school. He made more money striping parking lots on Saturdays than teaching all week!

Dan Jones' wife strongly opposes vouchers (she's a legislator). For him to even do a poll on this is biased and can't be trusted. There goes some of his respect. Next, 40% support? Yahoo. By the time of the election it will be over 50%. The voucher supporters strongly support them. Those opposed usually just do because their teacher friend told them they were bad. They won't be motivated to get to the polls. Guaranteed. Vouchers win.

Right on Utahns! You are begining to recognize the Republican agenda has always been to put public dollars in the hands of the rich!

Misled, Please cite your source for salary information. What I was able to find on the web after trying to verify your comment is that for 2007-2008, a teacher in Granite Scool District with 17 years experience and a Doctorate degree has approx 62,000/year (9 months) (source: www.graniteschools.org). By your calculations 20% of our teachers are making between 80k and 200k. With salaries like that I would have expected a few more Lexus and Hummers in the school parking lot.