We have a failing public school system which continues to suck down more and more money while delivering less in terms of well educated graduates.

We continue to fall behind the rest of the world in both the quality of our educational output and the quantity.

Tanya Clay House of the ultra-liberal People for the American Way recently declared, "We've never seen a shred of credible evidence that shows school vouchers actually help students learn. While all public schools must demonstrate success under No Child Left Behind, private schools are not held to the same level of accountability for their performance."

But lets ask the question another way, speaking of those same shreds of evidence, we've not seen many that point to those now in charge of that public school system having the ability to turn that around. In fact, there seems to be more evidence than not that they're incapable of doing so.

So the question becomes how competition could be any worse than monopoly? How could allowing the consumer of the education product to choose that which they find to best fill their own childrens needs be any worse than the arbitrary standards and needs of the monopoly?

From the side of the political spectrum which claims to be for "choice" this should be an issue for which they are fighting for the choice vouchers bring, not against.

Jason Bourne

From my perspective, vouchers certainly present an alternative to public education. I don't believe that they will reach the students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, nearly as much as middle to upper-class students. When parents are college educated, their kids generally do fine in public education, because they have parents who value education and put the effort in at home to enforce the importance. I certainly think that private schools will be selective in who they admit to their programs, since they have the ability to admit or deny admission, based upon whatever criteria they decide. Public education does not allow such discrimination. If, or when, this happens, and we begin comparing the results of public vs. private, don't forget what is being compared. I don't think public education is a "failed system." I do think it is full of failing students whose parents enable them with every distraction and excuse imaginable. I have students who miss more school in one quarter than I missed in twelve years. I have students whose parents actually text message their kids in class. Kids sit and text message to each other non-stop. When I was in school, if my parents needed me, they called the school. A.D.D. has become a catch-all phrase for every over medicated kid, who is simply hyped up on Dr. Pepper, and Red Bull, all before lunch. Every excuse for non-performance, no matter how valid, only weakens the character. If vouchers become a reality, and I don't care one way or another, I will still have over thirty kids per class, administration will still be over funded, and the kids whose parents stress the importance of education will still excel in public education. I don't think much will change for the other students, because it isn't important at home.

Look at the various issues that the NEA pushes- virtually all of them contrary to Utah values. If the NEA is against vouchers, that alone should convince us that vouchers are a good idea. NEA is dedicated to preserving their union power in a monopoly system, not providing the best education for our kids. Most of their criticisms of vouchers are distortions or half-truths.

So much for this remaining a local issue for Utahn's to decide on. Maybe the UEA is too closely aligned to the NEA to be able to approach the voucher issue objectively. I believe parents should have the ultimate choice on how to educate their own children. With additional choices, I trust that parents can objectively weigh out how to best educate their children.

Psrents are free to choose -- an have a lot of choices in the public school system. The issue here is using public money anc comparing apples and oranges since few private schools have to accept students with issues. Nor do they have NCLB hanging over their heads.
Let's ask why Wal-Mart and several other national chains are pouring money into the pro-voucher campaign. Since NEA's mission is to protect public education, why should it not funnel some of the money it collects from Utah educators back?
As for the post than whines about the failing public ed system sucking money out of his pocket -- he needs a reality check. Our kids are smarter than we ever were and at an earlier age. Yes, there are issues with immigration and everything else, btu our society would be third world without public ed.

Here are some of the items that NEA "pushes."

A quality teacher in every classroom

Lower class sizes for better one on one attention to students.

Competitive compensation for teachers.

Safe schools that are free from violence, bullying, and discrimination.

I wonder, against which Utah values do these items clash?

For almost all of the elected offices in Utah and issues put on the ballot, out of state money is involved. The fact is, niether the NEA or the Parents for Choice in Education has a vote in Utah. We can only hope the people of Utah study the voucher issue and vote for the position they believe will help Utah's childern. I think we have spent to much time demonizing who supports what and not enoough time determining what is best for Utah's childern.

I spent 8 years teaching in Utah public schools before accepting a job in a small midwestern private school. The emotions controlling the voucher battle have rendered both parties helpless as they are now fighting "right vs. wrong" instead of looking for ways to truly help all children, not just those attending a specific type of school. There are many students attending private schools that simply need a different focus or perspective. While some are wealthy, others are supported by grandparents, scholarships and even loans.

After watching how the NEA has tried to destroy individuality of learning and the pursuit of excellence in education, I would be wary of supporting any program that they were fighting so vigorously. Why not drop $1.5 million into Utah classrooms to help children instead of trying to use money as a political muscle?

Study the facts, make an informed decision and then be content with what the voice of the people decide. The more we ride the emotional train of vouchers, the more scars will be left on children everywhere. Don't let the NEA's money (or anyone else's) determine something so important as the education of future generations.

$ 1.5 million of NEA money proves what I already knew - voucher opposition is all about unionism. If private schools were union shops with union contracts, I doubt the NEA/UEA would have any oppostion to vouchers.

Many folks have argued that financially that the vouchers are a good move. Perhaps that is true, but is that really the only important issue?

I have a serious concern with the fact that these dollars will be spent at private schools, yet those schools don't have to meet the same standards as our public schools. I have a serious concern with the lack of oversight involved.

But most of all, I hate the idea of economic separatism that this plan creates. Those with some wealth--feel free to pull your kids from our public schools and further the cause of social elitism. The plan isn't good enough to provide the money for lower income families to do it, and they won't.

I also really don't understand why we are so quick to call for the death of neighborhood schools, which pull children, and their parents together for the good of each of our communities.

Nearly every flaw I have found in the public schools my children attend is because of lack of funding. They don't have the money to offer real talented and gifted programs, or attract and retain the best teachers. The buildings in many areas are worn out and tired. Vouchers won't solve these problems, and much of the opposition to them (and I'm not talking about the NEA) will come from parents like myself who want our public schools fixed before we start creating an alternative system.

Public dollars are already being spent in private schools. I bet the majority of students at BYU have at one time or another received federal grants for their education. In the end, these individuals give back in taxes paid into the system far more than they ever received.

Before deciding on yes or no on the voucher issue, read through what vouchers really will do for many who are limited in choices. Remember that not one penny less will be funded in public schools with vouchers. Additionally, the bill for vouchers is only for 5 years. Give it a try. If after 5 years you don't think the benefits are there it can go away forever. But, wouldn't it be a shame if there was a significant benefit that was never realized because as a society we did not look at this opportunity for change?

Let's see, the NEA pushes this agenda:

Denial of freedom of choice. (Unless it is their choice.)

Homosexual Marriage

Sexuality for school aged children.

Radical Socialism/Communism.

Repeal of 1st Amendment

Repeal of 2nd Amendment.

Feasibility study of NEA coalition with NAACP and National Council of La Raza (The Race) to seek a gargantuan lawsuit "on behalf of the economically poor students of this country."

"Priority" lobbying for the socialistic "establishment of a national, universal health care system."

Endorsement of a range of family-planning options for students.

Endorsement of in-state university tuition rates for illegal aliens.

Opposition to Wal-Mart's corporate decisions relating to unions.

Opposition to the Bush tax cuts.

Endorsement of Cesar Chavez National Holiday (Apparently, Labor Day isn't left-wing enough).

ETC. Ad Nasuem

Funny how this article ignores that the NEA's allies are the ACLU, NOW, and Planned Parenthood who lead the fight against vouchers in every state. Of course, these liberal organizations lay low in Utah because they know the public would catch on.

So where did this "public Money" come from in the first place? Oh, yeah--the Government took it from US. All I am asking for is a chance to spend MY money how I think it will best be spent.

I am wondering about the unintended consequences of private schools accepting public money.

Thanks to this voucher debate, we should all know that public schools are not allowed to push one side of a political issue. I believe the term is equal access. This issue is not directly covered in the voucher law. What if vouchers pass and in a few months, a parent is upset about what his/her student heard or learned in class. The parents wants a contrasting point of view taught or discussed as well. Does the private school have to comply because they are now taking public money? Does the long road of never-ending regulation begin?

Here are some other issues the NEA pushes...

1. Gay rights
2. Abortion on demand
3. Sex education

Here are some issues they oppose...

1. Parental Choice, they [NEA] obviously know better how to educate my child
2. Merit pay, the worst teachers definitely deserve the same pay check as the best
3. 65% Solution, let continue to increase the pay of administrators, who already make near six figure salaries, rather than spend the money in the classroom

and now Vouchers...

Unfortunately most Utahns are not educated on the topic and believe that public money is being taken away from the schools who need it so desperately. I taught in the public school system and cannot say enough about teachers needing continuing education before getting a pay raise. Competition won't hurt them, it will make them shape up. It would have been nice to drop this kind of money into educating teachers on being better teachers and parents on being more responsible parents rather than trying to convince the public how evil vouchers are. I hope vouchers pass.