Quote:No to a school choice program.


School Choice sounds like a good idea.  The problem is, it simply doesn't work.  Vouchers haven't proven to improve academic performance in the areas where they've been used.  It's basically nothing more than subsidizing private schools.  You also have many parents who won't choose schools based on academics, but based on religion or political beliefs.  Vouchers don't also really increase 'choice' because ultimately it's up to the private schools if they want to admit students or not.  You'll also have for-profit schools that put more money into marketing than education.  Much like we have with the college system.  In fact much of the student debt? Is owed to For-profit colleges.  And you know what else?  Those who attend for-profit colleges are also among the hardest places to get employment from afterwards.  


Not to mention it opens up more government control of the private schools, something I'm sure most conservatives wouldn't want.  And I wouldn't blame them.  


Of course Obama sends his kids to Private School.  Most politicians do.  A lot of wealthy people do in fact.  Personally I'd never send my kids to a private school, and I know others who feel the same.  Some of whom are well off.  That's why we'll probably never see much fixed in the way of public schools.  Politicians don't care because it doesn't effect them except when it comes to the polls.


In fact Obama sends his kids to a school that costs $29,000/year.  So I don't think Vouchers are really going to give everyone that 'equal opportunity' to send their kids to those schools.  And the schools themselves, again, do not have to accept students they don't want. 

Also, how is the mother on food stamps supposed to feed her child that's getting education choice?  Helping lift them out of poverty?  After several years, maybe.  Only once again, that's assuming that her child is accepted into a private school, and assuming that the voucher actually ends up improving their academics.  And then you have to have her pay for the other stuff that vouchers don't cover.


Wages have stagnated.  That's the real problem.  One that won't be addressed.  Trade deals like Obamatrade and NAFTA have not done anything to help matters, and in fact may have made them worse.  (Well Obamatrade would make things worse, so far it's not enacted yet) Our Middle Class used to be something to behold.  Now it's nowhere near that.  We need to return to a healthy middle class, rather than the weak middle class we have today.

 

First off, I can understand your opinion regarding school choice, but I must disagree with you.

 

In the first bold part of your statement that you made, this report from NPR seems to contradict your claims.

 

Regarding the second bold part of your statement, that's part of what "choice" is all about.  I personally attended both public High School as well as studied at a Catholic Seminary High School in my youth.  I know without a doubt that I learned far more in the catholic school than I did in public school.

 

Finally, I am all for helping the mother feed herself and her child.  I never said "do away" with food stamps, I said that the way the problem is usually handled is by throwing more money at it in the form of food stamps/welfare.  This usually comes with the call to "raise taxes on the rich because they don't pay their 'fair share'".  The fundamental problem is not addressed.

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