Another Surprise in the Defense Bill-largest school voucher program

[LiviaOlivia]

Jan 2, 2006
Another Surprise in the Defense Bill
the left coaster

The New York Sun is reporting today that the Republicans buried in the Defense Bill what amounts to the largest school voucher program in the country for students affected by Katrina.

President Bush will soon sign into law what is being described as the largest school voucher program in American history, providing about $1.6 billion in federal money for students affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Under the law, the money can go to parochial schools. That provision has won praise from school choice advocates and some religious leaders while attracting criticism from the National Education Association, a union that represents teachers who work at mainly government-run schools.

~snip~

The national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, also denounced the legislation, saying the bill "does not provide appropriate firewalls against taxpayer funding of religious instruction and proselytizing, and sets a disturbing precedent for the future."

~snip~

He (Milton Friedman) called the program awaiting Mr. Bush's signature "monumental," and said it will be remembered as part of Mr. Bush's "two-term approach to trying to change the way we do education in America."

What is truly worrisome is that this is a substantial victory for the religous right. Improving school choice is not of itself a bad idea but is that what this is really all about?

~snip~

Read more and get the links at:
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/006433.php#more

[Ian David]

1. Last I heard, Ted Kennedy supported this despite opposition to vouchers

because it's a one-time-only "emergency" measure.

I'm not sure if he eventually changed his mind about that.

[tx_dem41]

2. I'm not sure if he did or not. But, having grown up in New Orleans,

and knowing how horrible that school system was before Katrina, I could support this as a ONE-time, emergency-ONLY measure.

[mom cat]

3. That is a lot like the "temporary" buildings I went to school in

forty years ago. They are still in use and even uglier.
This bill will take money away from the public schools just when they need it the most.

[tx_dem41]

4. You should see the temporary buildings I went to school in in NOLA.

Still there. In the case of NOLA, the school system needs to prove they can take care of the kids. They never did when they were being funded.

[mom cat]

5. How can they prove that they can take care of kids if they

don't recieve funding? I am surely not arguing with you that the NOLA schools have been and are awful. I just do not see how reducing their funding will help. The voucher solution will only help the new white majority with private school payments.Those in the minority groups will suffer worse than ever.

[tx_dem41]

6. The private and parochial school systems have proven themselves...

in NOLA to be far better at education than the public schools (and I am ONLY making that observation in the case of NOLA...NOT generally). Quite frankly, they have already proven it.

[mom cat]

7. What is the racial makeup of:

A Private Schools in NOLA?
and
B.Parochial schools in NOLA?

Would the public schools have recieved better funding if there had not been money going to private schools instead?

Private schools are usually more populated by those with more money, and of course, will end up with more educated students. I am sure that NOLA private schools have the same advantages as private schools all over the country. I am just not sure that giving them even more money willl do squat for the poor.

[tx_dem41]

8. A lot higher than you would imagine, but I don't know the exact

numbers. For example, the parochial school system has a long history of providing a great deal of financial aid to poorer students. I have nothing but respect for the Archdiocese in New Orleans for rescuing many, many needy students.

[mom cat]

9. II am glad to hear that.

I still think that further eroding the public school system will not help. I am further appalled that Bush snuck this in the defense budget! This is not about either education or defense, but about placating his right wing base.

[tx_dem41]

10. I would agree with that.

Please note that I am not supporting this action on a general basis at all. I have never been for any sort of voucher program.

[mom cat]

11. I hear what you are saying too. There are not any easy answers

for NOLA.

[tx_dem41]

12. Sadly, no.