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Heated voucher battle turns ugly with fear of the devil thrown in
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"We are uncomfortable with a national organization that advises teachers what they should be teaching."
NCLB is that sort of thing you are referring to right? We already have enough government interference in Public ed, why do we want to open the doors to government interference in our Private schools as well? That is exactly what Vouchers will do.
Dennis Lisonbee
Here are the facts:
The pro-voucher crowd has set up deceptive web sites.
The pro-voucher crowd has manipulated the numbers they present to the public so that they no longer represent the numbers presented by the state.
The pro-voucher crowd has a radio ad on the air right now that neglects mentioning that the "held harmless" money is revoked after five years, and that the eventual per year cost of the entitlement is 71 million per year in year 13.
That's deception. People who use deceptive practices and do harm have been, in my opinion, deceived by the father of deception.
Of COURSE they don't want to be told that they're deceptive. If they loved truth, they wouldn't have deceived in the first place.
It is unethical to be asking me, a taxpayer without any children, to pay for your Private religiously indoctrinated education. It is even against the State constitution.
My tax money should not be used to cater to your exclusive choice.
Maybe some Utah conservatives are very conservative on social issues (abortion, etc.), but less "conservative" when it comes to taking money from public education because we care about teachers and ALL of the children in the state. Maybe we are still a little suspicious with entities that are too concerned about their bottom line (profit).
ALREADY PAID for Choice,
Obviously if you have sent your child to private school you have plenty of money. I don't feel sorry for you just like I don't feel sorry for Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. Simple economics says people who are paying for private school now have already added the $2000 dollars into their cost.
I don't have children and have never burdened the public education system. Get out your checkbook and pay ME back. That would be ethical!
More money for government schools. But the dumbing down of American Schools is continuing via government schools. I don't want those same declining results for my children
BTW, there are good private schools that cost only $200 per month per child. Been there down that.
You'd have an excellent point if there were a child tax rather than a child tax deduction. Under the current system, it is the people without kids who pay for the education of those with kids.
You should consider your tax deduction as a voucher that you can use to supplement the education of your kids.
So the devil comment was admittedly way over the top.
Getting back down to reality.
It's pretty evident where the anti-voucher funding is coming from.
What about this "Parents For Choice" group? I am interested in knowing just where their funding is coming from. An internet search doesn't reveal much about that.
I have heard that most of it is from out of state. I have also heard something about the man who owns overstock. Does anyone know?
The state kicks in around $4,500 per child for education only if that child is enrolled. If they aren't, the state does not allot any money for them. This is all based on October 1st, enrollment.
Where the 7,500 number comes from is the additional revenue from property taxes. The money doesn't go directly to salary or usually any other operations. It goes to paying off debt. ASD is around a half-billion dollars in bond debt so that schools can be built/renovated etc., but it was the taxpayers who voted for it.
Charter schools don't get that sort of money. They get about $2,500. I don't expect Charter schools to remain free public schools after Vouchers are approved, simply due to economics. We have enough Charters to convert to Private schools to meet the demand not being met by the supply of seats. This is a good thing really. We don't need to keep education free, and should have a open market for competition. Let the parents choose. Vote for Vouchers.
If he does, I will vote for Vouchers!!
"Public schools are a government-run monopoly. Vouchers will introduce competition into the education system. Competition will benefit our children because it will force public schools to improve."
If you really are a "BYU Grad", somewhere along the line, you should have learned to back up ridiculous statements with FACTS!
Back East, everyone I know send their children to private school. The public schools are more dangerous than prison.
Blessings and regards,
I can sit hear for the next two hours trying to persuade you to hear the truth, but until you actually do your research first before coming to the conversation, there's no point.
Have fun at the Harry Reid speech!
For example. For simplicity, say I pay $1000 in education taxes. Say there are 100,000 kids in the public education system. I am, in essence, paying $10 for every kid in the system (including my own). Thus, the $1000 I pay isn't going for my child - only $10 of it is. The remaining $990 dollars are going to pay for other kids in the system. That's the way our system is set up. Those with no children in the schools pay (they actually pay more than those with children) as well as those with children in the schools.
So, to say you've "already paid for your child's education" is a weak argument. You've actually paid into a pot that educates all of Utah's children.
2. Competition already exists in education.
3. Vouchers do not force public schools to improve, they could force some to fail.
4. For the most part, people don't put their kids in private school because public school is terrible. They put them in private schools for other reasons (status, social climbing, religion, etc.).
5. Statistics show that Utah's public schools are not failing. They are good.
6. Education is SO important that we cannot allow private business to take it over.
If you (the student) apply yourself there is much that can be learned. If we (parents) get involved in the education of our children, that will enforce the importance of an education.
As far as vouchers go, taxes are to be used for the "Public Good." Since an excellent education is available if you but search it out, why should the funds go for private education? It seems that supporters of vouchers feel that all that is necessary to obtain an education is to attend a private school. Sorry, but that ain't the answer. The answer is to get involved in your child's education. Set the example, continue to study and learn yourselves. Your children learn much more by what you do, as opposed to what you say to do. Let them see you read, study. Set the example. It will do miracles.
School facilities are used by other entities. City athletics, civic meetings, voting houses, etc. I am sure some number crunchers came up with good numbers.
I agree with that statement's beginning. The Crisis began when we started cutting funds to education. We are underfunding the system so badly our schools do not have the funds to keep curriculum current. We should not divert more finds away from Public ed, but instead find ways to bring education funding up to sustainable levels.
What a joke! Despite what the Limbaughs and Hannity types say and pass of as facts; there are very few Utah schools "in crisis". Just because some schools across the country are, does not give you the right to classify all schools in the same category. The overwelming majority of Utah schools are doing very excellent work! Please enter your nearest one and find out for yourself rather than just spouting off garbage on a worthless and nameless blog. If you want to back up your little "fact" with something other than your word, please do so. Sound bites and one-liners do nothing to support your cause.
We thoroughly researched the economics, and understand the benefits to the public schools. The definition of insanity is to continue doing things the same way and expect different results. We continue to have large families in Utah supported by one wage earner. Since our demographics won't likely change, what's the best option left? If I can move a child out of public school for less than the $7,000 I get from the state, it makes economic sense, assuming the parents of that child prefer a different educational setting for him/her. Most parents (even lower socio-economic demographics) are very interested in their child's education. Trust them to choose the best options!
The economics of Vouchers don't accomplish what you just claimed. Moving that child out of the Public system does not leave behind money at his or her school. It is not 7K either. You are adding in fixed costs like Bonds, property upkeep etc. to try to persuade your point of view which come from local property tax.
The reality is if we move enough kids in certain areas out of the public schools, we will end up closing a few Public ones before they should be. The second reality is we will see Public school buildings converted to Private ones. With Vouchers we are taking people's choice and limiting it further if they cannot afford the difference between the Voucher and tuition.
I wonder if Tew (above) would characterize the United Order or the law of consecration as "Prussian Socialism?" Give Utahns a little more credit. I hope most people can see through this rhetoric.
Just because conservatives in other states have supported vouchers does not make vouchers right for our state. Our legislature is all too eager to adopt pet national conservative causes without really considering the best interest of our state. National interests don't know what is best for us, WE DO. Even Governor Huntsman realized that more money needed to be allocated for education. He held out for our children against the ultra-right legislature.
Public education in Utah is not broken. There are issues that need to be addressed, but diverting funds to private business is not the answer.
I want my money to help my kids and other needy kids, not the rich minority in private schools.
Private schools are businesses pure and simple. They want revenue. This economic motivation, for the most part, does not belong in education.
If parents can afford to send their kids to private school, let them pay for it. Why should the tax payers pay for them.
Let's use our tax money for the kids in the public school. Heaven knows the kids need it more than a private school
The pro voucher groups are talking about the funding from the NEA and not wanting special interest national organizations involved in Utah's decisions, I wonder who is "calling the kettle black"? Where do you think alot of the money that Parents for Choice have for commercials, flyers etc. came from? The Walton Family (WALMART), Amyway, Overstock.com (Special Interests) and private investors.
Over ninety percent of Utah's children attend public schools. The voucher will help a small minority and hurt a large majority. There is no accountability for our tax dollars going to private schools. Parents already have a choice in sending their children to different schools. Permits to other public schools and Carson Smith voucher for special needs children. Vote against Referendum #1!
Have these same people ever driven on a freeway or highway in Utah - or anywhere else, for that matter? That's a PRIME example of taxpayer money being spent through private companies who all bid for and contract for the construction of roads.
Afterall, the money allocated by the legislature for Vouchers came at the expense of other projects, such as roads - not the universal education fund, which has exploded in funding during Huntsman's term.
Where's the beef?
I'll cast my vote for beelzebub over any public school teacher or official anytime.
How about legislative accountability? Let's make a law that says no legislator can make money off of private or charter schools... ever.
You want to fix public education? Stop teaching on age level and let us teach on skill level. That will solve a lot of problems. Education used to valued. Why? Not everybody had it.
Your comments about accountability in private schools need refinement before they'll make much sense, let alone hold water.
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