This is the level where affirmative action SHOULD occur. By enabling poorer students, who are often minority students, to get a good education you even the playing field. Educate them, then allow them to earn their position in society. The current program of poor education for poor people, who are often minorities, then giving them places in Universities and in the job field, even though they don't meet the requirements, sets them up to fail.
When pilot programs work, like vouchers, cut um. When pilot programs fail, like Mass. Health Care, make them nation wide!!! I get it now, I should run for office!
Everyone with school aged kids should see this video. My son went to a private school for the first time last year. He went from a C and D student to an A and B student. He is now 9th grade and writing papers that are college level. He is around kids that have a desire to do well in school instead of get by or drop out.
There is a reason for everything and like in every negative situation what does trust and hope do? Give us a goal to work towards and a light to shine on the darkened road we travel on. I'm glad people are rising up for a good cause and getting the word out here. I wish you the best of luck, especially to the people of DC who obviously need a change in their educational program and community.
Hey, Hammock, I used to be a teacher in a public school, and there is a lot more going on at these public schools than the performance of the individual teachers. I taught at a school which was outstanding for many years and yet turned to crap, even though there were still many excellent, dedicated teachers remaining in the system. School choice and vouchers allow the parents who really care better direct the education of their children. A classroom with 10% problem kids is a lost cause.
When my son was born, we looked at the schools we were zoned for. 39th percentile, 49th lowest state - hell, what could POSSIBLY go wrong? We moved to a better zone, and now scrape to put him in private school. I'd love to get a voucher, but can't. It'd make things a lot easier for us. But I get to pay more than double - in taxes AND in private school tuition - because I want my son to have a good education.
I also grew up in a country with universal education and it is a terrible system. The well off can afford to move to areas with better schools or go to private schools. While the less fortunate are stuck in the under performing ones. At least with a voucher system these people would be able to have the choice of where to educate their child. Competition would work wonders for any under performing school, since they would have to shape up or close.
@makaisenki: And I'm not sure what area you live in, but I'm in the suburbs and we have at least 6 elementary schools in my area, and are constantly building new ones, because they can't fit all of the kids. These are public schools we're talking about, not private. So not only are schools experiencing severe overcrowding via a PUBLIC system, but the schools are separated by maybe 10 miles max. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, the next school isn't 60 miles off.
The reason there aren't more private schools already in DC is that families like these can't afford the out of pocket expense. If vouchers were provided for everyone, private schools would expand and multiply to accommodate them all. True, few of them will be able to attend a school as prestigious as G.V., but the point is that even the poorest students can attend better schools for less money. Expand the program slowly, and private schools will grow to meet the demand.
Keeping blacks on the gubmint plantation. Why would they want to help people out of poverty and government dependency? Wouldn't that destroy their voting base?
And the reason you can't debate with me is because I use logic, reason and let the results speak for themselves instead of tired ideology. That's the real reason why you can't debate with me.
Even when the overwhelming proof slaps you in the face you still can't let go the binding chains of your ideology. Btw, education boards, superintendents and chancellors can be packed with ideologues like yourself. The real accountability comes when a student leaves a failing school for a quality one. That's the built in accountability of a free market.
Point taken. However, if they are going to waste billions of dollars on wasteful federal spending on education, why not actually apply some to a program that works? We are in full agreement that the states ought to correct this problem of no-choice eduction.
the disease is no competition amongst public schools. If voucher money was attached to the children and their parents could choose what school would get that money, you can BELIEVE that the quality of education would improve dramatically.
No its code word for "the government that governs less governs best" or "I'd rather be independence from government rather than dependent on government" Its also code word for both parties are full of it.
I went to a high school in a bad neighborhood and it was awful there, it was gang filled and violence was daily, the school was run down and the teachers were tired. I hated it there, so i dropped out. I signed up for online homeschooling and I had to work cleaning toilets to pay for it. I am now in a good four year university , getting a b.s in biology. My brothers went 2 the same h.s but soon dropped out and joined gangs from that h.s there is a learned culture of ignorance and poverty
That last thing you said was spot on, Democracy is a very dangerous form of government (kinda like two wolfs and one sheep taking a vote on what to eat), and I kinda think that was the whole idea behind the U.S. being founded as a constitutional republic. But I'm sure you already knew that.
to me the bigger issue seems to be that DC public schools have gotten so bad that these vouchers are a desired necessity, I hope this is what the administration thinks as well ... we shouldn't just treat symptoms, we should try to cure the disease
I never once said that there was a correlation on spending. Even in our own country schools that spend less often out perform those that spend more. Thus why would a voucher system suddenly fix things? if students are going to 1 school over another that school is getting more money. You just said yourself that the money won't fix the problem What we need in order to fix the problem is to take the policies that don't work, and get rid of them. Take the policies that DO work and properly use them
Actually this was addressed by the Supreme Court's decision in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, which said that such school choice programs do not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Unfortunately Reason has this one wrong. The federal government shouldn't be bailing out failed businesses OR providing children from low-income families with education. Neither are the job of the government.
Government money? Before that money was taken by the government, it belonged to individual people. Vouchers simply let people keep some of the money that would have been spent on giving their kids a public education and letting them choose to use it on some private school. Public schools have a monopoly on students because most people cannot afford private school tuition with taxes. Since public schools are always guarenteed funding, they have no incentive to improve at all.
Because financial aid is not directly connected to spending on education. If the family receives financial aid, it can spend it on what it wants. If it receives a voucher, it can only choose a school. Thus the money rests in the school system. I think that is the difference you are thinking about...
Here's what you don't understand Mushroom. The "government's money" is the people's money. So if the people are already paying the government taxes to pay for schooling then why can't the people have a choice of school? What you are advocating is that only the rich and privileged should have the choice of where to send thier children to school. While the poor and lower middle class should be forced to send their children to failing schools.
Correction, they are not spending it on the student. They are spending it on the books, the computers, the gym, and other forms of infastructure. That's not the same as them spending it directly on the student. The only way you'd spend educational money directly on the student is in a home schooling, where all the money goes directly to a specific student rather than a collection of them. By the way I'm not a democrat. I don't like either party. I'm an independent until we get more choices.
I won't argue the definition, but it's not money the "public" (meaning here, -government-) got in voluntary exchange. What happens to the other applicants? Nothing since the program was axed, there are no applicants now. Back when there -was- a program they got a letter saying the legislature had defined a certain number of slots that precluded them from being in the program. Again, $7500 is not a large number compared to what parents pay in in taxes.
i don't think they're saying that all things being equal, vouchers are desirable...they're just expressing shock and disgust that the administration would choose to start with eliminating THIS program, one which is substantially more justifiable by libertarian standards than the absurd amount of money spent on far more destructive programs.
the part of private schools that is accountable 2 the public is that if people dont like their services, the schools dont get their money. public schools of course get money whether people like their services or not b/c most people can't afford 2 pay twice 4 education-once in taxes that go 2 public schools and again in additional 2ition pd. 2 private schools u say people must participate in the education process. why does that not include choosing the school your child goes 2 in your mind?
Time to end the two party system... if people want to save this country for your kids and grand kids. George Washington was right about political parties that would evetually end up with what we have. If you want "change" support only those that support, defend and live up to the US Constitution... kick out the politicians and elect statesmen. Unite or die.
Our Education system is dominated by "unversal edcuation" with some small private schools. So there is a huge public monopoly. This is different from health care which at least has a degree of choice and competition. So while we don't want to go to the "public school model" for healthcare, we would rather move towards the "pseudo free market model "of health care for the edcuation system.
Really sad that the program will be gone. My niece has benefited so much from the program. Next year my mother has to decide which public/charter to send her. Everyone does not have 28,422 dollars to send their child to Sidwell Friends like the Obama's. He along with congress is making a bad mistake.
Why can't we just strengthen the schools in the first place. Seriously. Rather than have to deal with changing around irrelevant pieces, and doing irrelevant crap let's just change the thing that ACTUALLY effects education. Not where a child is educated... but HOW a child is educated. It's not about jobs being lost or gained it's about a school doubling in size but not having the resources, like books, desks, classroom size, teachers, etc... to deal with the new influx of children FFS!
Good luck at Wednesday's rally. Every parent should have a voucher to choose their children's school. it is their money, and it is being wasted in the public schools. 5 stars!
For blacks and hispanics a "C" average in low level classes is enough to win the scholarship. For whites they need to achieve B or higher in higher level classes. For Asians they pretty much have to have all A's and take college level classes. Yeah, it is fair... Obama took mostly low level classes and did mediocre in math and science yet he got into Harvard. If these scholarship recipients could take on high level classes and get A's and score 100s in the standardized tests that the whites and Asians take, sure, use the tax dollars. Otherwise it is just wasting money on the low end of the I.Q. spectrum. Hmmm.... wonder why this mother or this video said nothing about the different standards for different races?
Many of the parents probably are not very involved. However, if the parents want to be involved and want their kids to have a better education, they should be able to use the same tax dollars that would be used for the bad schools in their districts. At least those kids are motivated and the money will be well spent. No one is suggesting that the unmotivated kids are given anything extra, but the ones who are trying should be supported.
To make matters worse, he sends his own kids to a private school while taking this opportunity away from other parents. He has a typical "I gots mine" attitude.
I feel like the bigger problem is that you shouldn't have kids if you can't give them the best life possible. I feel like children is something you (plan ) for not( have) then expect everyone else to pick up the pieces.
Well it does, but then you still have to answer questions like in New York where it has a high population density, what exactly will happen to the schools that are already performing very well but don't have enough class rooms, books, or room to expand their building in order to allow newer students? Where are they suddenly going to get all of that? How will it not negatively impact the children there? How are we going to make sure that the new competition educate rather than indoctrinating?
They wouldn't be forced to improve. I used to live in a city where we had the choice of 2 schools within 20 miles 3 schools within 40 miles and the rest were 60 miles. EVERY country that is not a 3rd world country scores better than us. Even 1 third world country does. But America is a much larger and more spread out country than MOST. China Russia, those are a bit different. The 3 choices of schools in that area sucked, why not work on improving schools.
It is such a sad state of being when one see only government as the source of their salvation when history has proved and is still proving over and over again that there is no more oppressive tyrannical force than GOVERNMENT!
The teachers' unions hate vouchers because they think there will be less money for the public schools (because so many public schools are awful and don't improve). These unions aren't improving, and they're more concerned with their bottom line than with the students (or, they would be pro-voucher).
And in the case between bad and worse, all you'll ever get is death. I choose life. I refuse to sanction any form of evil. I will fight for what is right, even when I'm not given the option.
I suspect there's a budget issue here - maybe the school district spends more money per student than the voucher program, but that doesn't mean the district saves money when a kid leaves the public school. So basically, you have a poor school system and you want an already strapped budget to pull an additional 18 million dollars from somewhere. And btw, it's deceptive to compare the DC school system budget to national budgets - those big numbers you throw around only serve to manipulate folks.
what can we do to make the voucher program happen? public schools have been failing us for decades setting aside paraniod conspiricy theories i can't see why we would continue to poor money into a failed program when there id an alternative. we wanted change this is where that change is needed most
You do realize that countries like Canada, and denmark, and many other countries have lower poverty rates right? The free market is nothing without accountability. This country is VERY terrible at accountability. It's hard to mobilize Americans for any ends. What keeps people poor, is companies like wal-mart. It's a closed system. Worth billions at the top, very low paying at the bottom etc... Most people that work for wal-mart can only afford to shop at wal-mart hurting competition.
This is a good question. You might ask yourself the bigger question, why does anyone in this country deserve an education of any sort? If we agree that taxpayer-paid for education is a good thing, then why don't are taxpayer dollars go to the institutions which do the best job (and at nearly half the cost)? Every student should have the freedom to take $8000 of taxpayer funds and apply it to any school of his and his parents' choice. If this bankrupts public schools, so be it.
Government giving money to a school is not regulation. A regulation is a limit. a law, or a rule. These schools are being given money for under performing. That would be like your father saying "If you do terribly in school you will get more money, but if you do well in school you obviously won't need the money and therefor won't get it." I'm arguing that schools need limits, and are provided with help to reach above those limits, in order to get funding or else fail through regulations.
I distinguish points when I type with caps on as well. Let me use one last analogy for you. If the PARENTS decided with their OWN money that THEY want to send THEIR kid to a school that will teach THEIR kids that the earth is FLAT and not round... That's their choice right? Even if THEY want THEIR kids with THEIR money to be taught that the sun revolves around the EARTH, it's THEIR choice right? We need a system set up that values facts, truth, and science over mere uneducated choices.
forget the voucher programs... make ALL schools better by investing in public education. your kids don't need private schools to do better - they need better schools in general.
@UBchick33, DC schools already spend around $20 grand per studernt. More money won't fix anything, you need to give PARENTS the power to decide where & how to school their kids. A voucher system does just that.
So are we going to give vouchers to every student in a poor performing public school? Surely these better schools can't handle everyone in the area. So the voucher program will make the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Educationally speaking. Improving schools across the board is a much more logical way to solve the problem.
"Public Money"?! That money comes from people like Mercedes mother. Barack Obama isn't writing a check for the DC public school system, the taxpayers of the District are. And $7500 a year ain't much in comparison to what a two income family has paid into that system on their own. Vouchers aren't a "bandaid" they allow a -small- level of incentive for schools to earn students.
You want the government to give a 1 size fits all shoe to answer all the problems from every single area. So are we supposed to give each and every kid the same exact amount of money? Even when the cost of living is obscenely high there? What about if the cost of living is obscenely low? My argument is that we need to use the scientific method to fix the educational system. In other words if a program doesn't work for the situation throw it out, if it does work for that situation use it.
Second, I have been a church-going Christian my entire life and I've never heard of any parent denying their child medical treatment because "medicine is evil". That sounds like crazy cult stuff. ...And third, also nonsense.
I'll sum up the problem with 1 word. PEOPLE. If the government is the problem it's because people are put into power, aren't held accountable, are re-elected even when they have proven not to be trusthworthy, etc... They need to flush out the bad congressmen Parents need to be more active overall. There is no reason a single school board should be leaning creationist. You have to blame parents for the problems because if the school board won't do anything they have to replace the school board
So 18,000,000 dollars divided by 7500 dollars per student means that this program helps 2,400 students. How many students in total are in the public school system?
@ZsTARR64 This isn't about the rich keeping kids down, its politicians who want an uneducated public who will vote for them no matter how bad they treat them. It's also about Unions and other special interests who line the pockets of the politicians.
Two wrongs do not make a right. A voucher system (funded by tax dollars) is entirely immoral. Whether it works better than another immoral program is a non-issue. Reason should be calling for the end to all government funded education programs. Not attempting to defend one morally bankrupt program that happens to be more practical than all the other morally bankrupt government programs.
Libertarians are Jeffersonian Republicans. The Libertarian party may be a new comer but not the party platform. Libertarians actually had to branch off and form a party of its own because the Republican party turned away from its roots. Libertarians are the original Republicans but now the modern Republican party has become just milder flavor of collectivist progressivism.
Mushroom, your public school education is evidence of the need for school choice. The constitution give us freedom of religion not freedom from religion. Parents can send their children to a secular charter school, a religious school, or their current government school of welfare indoctrination, its their choice. Choice shouldn't be solely reserved to infanticide.
i feel WE could make more drastic cuts in other spots to save programs like this but someting needs to be done about gov spending. i dig "school choice" but i dig CUTTING gov spending more. the young laidy at 2:45 in this vid doesnt need gov to make sure she has an opportunity. it is her job to be a good person, keep at it and keep moving. dont get bogged down now! WE cant wait for obama to fix all the bumps in ower lives. please dont take this the wrong way. (WE= we the people)
Well a lot of areas only have a choice of 2-4 schools in 60 mile areas. But lets take New York as an example. They have a TON of schools possibly hundreds all within a 15 mile radius. They hold lottos to get into the good schools. Now what would happen if you open up the flood gates? Thousands of kids would flood into a school suddenly. Where will they get the teachers? Class Space? Books? Computers? etc.. They can't build that much infastructure all at once. Improve them all first THEN vouch
I understand how it works. The problem is though if the parents decide what school they want to send their kid, some schools will get so filled up that it will ruin the overall education. The whole educational system is fucked and needs HEAVY remodeling. But tell me this. If we go to a voucher system, how will it help the children that are in the only school available to them. Are they going to have to take a bus 60+ miles to go somewhere they can get a decent education? That's my major issue.
So, yes, actually they -could- "work for all students". Unless you believe that the public system is -so- -bad- that -no- -one- would choose to stay in it?
How about this compromise: allow for vouchers to be taken to any institution that meets the same educational requirements as public schools. This would prevent some objections about Creationism being taught and, as Hillary Clinton put it, kids attending "the school of the Jihad." I really think that's the only rational objection to vouchers - that they might go to fund quacky religious schools.
Where is the NYT, NBC, ABC and CBS on this story? CNN and Fox have shown this story. And as was said earlier, can anyone imagine if President Bush had stopped this program rather than Obama? The mainstream media would be on this daily. Since the mainstream media LOVES Obama, they are SILENT on this matter. And the kids suffer and are subjected to a substandard education.
Some Black Democrats may not like vouchers, but many more like charters, and even when they don't, if you point out more Black politicians and teachers put their children in private school when compared to the general population, and that Black parents of children in school, when given a chance, choose charters and/or vouchers, there is no disagreement that options should exist.
google "the beautiful tree." its from cato about how the worlds poorest countries educate themselves through private schools even though there are government schools.
This is the level where affirmative action SHOULD occur. By enabling poorer students, who are often minority students, to get a good education you even the playing field. Educate them, then allow them to earn their position in society. The current program of poor education for poor people, who are often minorities, then giving them places in Universities and in the job field, even though they don't meet the requirements, sets them up to fail.
When pilot programs work, like vouchers, cut um. When pilot programs fail, like Mass. Health Care, make them nation wide!!! I get it now, I should run for office!
Everyone with school aged kids should see this video. My son went to a private school for the first time last year. He went from a C and D student to an A and B student. He is now 9th grade and writing papers that are college level. He is around kids that have a desire to do well in school instead of get by or drop out.
you are absolutely right
Well said! Well Said!
There is a reason for everything and like in every negative situation what does trust and hope do? Give us a goal to work towards and a light to shine on the darkened road we travel on. I'm glad people are rising up for a good cause and getting the word out here. I wish you the best of luck, especially to the people of DC who obviously need a change in their educational program and community.
Wow, powerful message there. And its true...
Hey, Hammock,
I used to be a teacher in a public school, and there is a lot more going on at these public schools than the performance of the individual teachers. I taught at a school which was outstanding for many years and yet turned to crap, even though there were still many excellent, dedicated teachers remaining in the system.
School choice and vouchers allow the parents who really care better direct the education of their children. A classroom with 10% problem kids is a lost cause.
When my son was born, we looked at the schools we were zoned for. 39th percentile, 49th lowest state - hell, what could POSSIBLY go wrong? We moved to a better zone, and now scrape to put him in private school. I'd love to get a voucher, but can't. It'd make things a lot easier for us. But I get to pay more than double - in taxes AND in private school tuition - because I want my son to have a good education.
Awesome video. 5 stars & fav'd.
Keep up the good work.
I also grew up in a country with universal education and it is a terrible system. The well off can afford to move to areas with better schools or go to private schools. While the less fortunate are stuck in the under performing ones. At least with a voucher system these people would be able to have the choice of where to educate their child. Competition would work wonders for any under performing school, since they would have to shape up or close.
@makaisenki: And I'm not sure what area you live in, but I'm in the suburbs and we have at least 6 elementary schools in my area, and are constantly building new ones, because they can't fit all of the kids. These are public schools we're talking about, not private. So not only are schools experiencing severe overcrowding via a PUBLIC system, but the schools are separated by maybe 10 miles max. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, the next school isn't 60 miles off.
The reason there aren't more private schools already in DC is that families like these can't afford the out of pocket expense. If vouchers were provided for everyone, private schools would expand and multiply to accommodate them all.
True, few of them will be able to attend a school as prestigious as G.V., but the point is that even the poorest students can attend better schools for less money.
Expand the program slowly, and private schools will grow to meet the demand.
Keeping blacks on the gubmint plantation. Why would they want to help people out of poverty and government dependency? Wouldn't that destroy their voting base?
And the reason you can't debate with me is because I use logic, reason and let the results speak for themselves instead of tired ideology.
That's the real reason why you can't debate with me.
thanks
Even when the overwhelming proof slaps you in the face you still can't let go the binding chains of your ideology.
Btw, education boards, superintendents and chancellors can be packed with ideologues like yourself. The real accountability comes when a student leaves a failing school for a quality one. That's the built in accountability of a free market.
Agreed.
Point taken. However, if they are going to waste billions of dollars on wasteful federal spending on education, why not actually apply some to a program that works?
We are in full agreement that the states ought to correct this problem of no-choice eduction.
the disease is no competition amongst public schools. If voucher money was attached to the children and their parents could choose what school would get that money, you can BELIEVE that the quality of education would improve dramatically.
No its code word for "the government that governs less governs best" or "I'd rather be independence from government rather than dependent on government" Its also code word for both parties are full of it.
The ladies ask the question Why? There may be multiple answers to that question, but the best I can think of only needs 3 words: bait-and-switch.
I went to a high school in a bad neighborhood and it was awful there,
it was gang filled and violence was daily, the school was run down and the teachers were tired.
I hated it there, so i dropped out.
I signed up for online homeschooling and I had to work cleaning toilets to pay for it.
I am now in a good four year university , getting a b.s in biology.
My brothers went 2 the same h.s but soon dropped out and joined gangs from that h.s
there is a learned culture of ignorance and poverty
Change is what you OBAMMY lovers wanted!
YOU GOT IT!!!!!
That last thing you said was spot on, Democracy is a very dangerous form of government (kinda like two wolfs and one sheep taking a vote on what to eat), and I kinda think that was the whole idea behind the U.S. being founded as a constitutional republic. But I'm sure you already knew that.
to me the bigger issue seems to be that DC public schools have gotten so bad that these vouchers are a desired necessity, I hope this is what the administration thinks as well ... we shouldn't just treat symptoms, we should try to cure the disease
I never once said that there was a correlation on spending. Even in our own country schools that spend less often out perform those that spend more. Thus why would a voucher system suddenly fix things? if students are going to 1 school over another that school is getting more money. You just said yourself that the money won't fix the problem
What we need in order to fix the problem is to take the policies that don't work, and get rid of them. Take the policies that DO work and properly use them
Freedom of Religion also the pursuit of happiness,Taxes, and the biggest thing We the People. Just to name a few.
Actually this was addressed by the Supreme Court's decision in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, which said that such school choice programs do not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
2 in his daughters' classes are on vouchers (reported in the news).
I guess he wanted to "change" that?
Unfortunately Reason has this one wrong.
The federal government shouldn't be bailing out failed businesses OR providing children from low-income families with education.
Neither are the job of the government.
real question, hows that change working out for yah?
Government money? Before that money was taken by the government, it belonged to individual people. Vouchers simply let people keep some of the money that would have been spent on giving their kids a public education and letting them choose to use it on some private school. Public schools have a monopoly on students because most people cannot afford private school tuition with taxes. Since public schools are always guarenteed funding, they have no incentive to improve at all.
Why? Because he's got to pay back the Unions (Teacher's Union in this case). Same reason he's handing Chrysler to the UAW.
Because financial aid is not directly connected to spending on education. If the family receives financial aid, it can spend it on what it wants. If it receives a voucher, it can only choose a school. Thus the money rests in the school system.
I think that is the difference you are thinking about...
Here's what you don't understand Mushroom. The "government's money" is the people's money. So if the people are already paying the government taxes to pay for schooling then why can't the people have a choice of school?
What you are advocating is that only the rich and privileged should have the choice of where to send thier children to school. While the poor and lower middle class should be forced to send their children to failing schools.
Correction, they are not spending it on the student. They are spending it on the books, the computers, the gym, and other forms of infastructure. That's not the same as them spending it directly on the student.
The only way you'd spend educational money directly on the student is in a home schooling, where all the money goes directly to a specific student rather than a collection of them.
By the way I'm not a democrat. I don't like either party. I'm an independent until we get more choices.
I won't argue the definition, but it's not money the "public" (meaning here, -government-) got in voluntary exchange.
What happens to the other applicants? Nothing since the program was axed, there are no applicants now. Back when there -was- a program they got a letter saying the legislature had defined a certain number of slots that precluded them from being in the program.
Again, $7500 is not a large number compared to what parents pay in in taxes.
Most of these people voted for Obama and will most likley vote for him again. They got what they deserve.
i don't think they're saying that all things being equal, vouchers are desirable...they're just expressing shock and disgust that the administration would choose to start with eliminating THIS program, one which is substantially more justifiable by libertarian standards than the absurd amount of money spent on far more destructive programs.
the part of private schools that is accountable 2 the public is that if people dont like their services, the schools dont get their money. public schools of course get money whether people like their services or not b/c most people can't afford 2 pay twice 4 education-once in taxes that go 2 public schools and again in additional 2ition pd. 2 private schools
u say people must participate in the education process. why does that not include choosing the school your child goes 2 in your mind?
Time to end the two party system... if people want to save this country for your kids and grand kids. George Washington was right about political parties that would evetually end up with what we have. If you want "change" support only those that support, defend and live up to the US Constitution... kick out the politicians and elect statesmen. Unite or die.
Our Education system is dominated by "unversal edcuation" with some small private schools. So there is a huge public monopoly.
This is different from health care which at least has a degree of choice and competition. So while we don't want to go to the "public school model" for healthcare, we would rather move towards the "pseudo free market model "of health care for the edcuation system.
Really sad that the program will be gone. My niece has benefited so much from the program. Next year my mother has to decide which public/charter to send her. Everyone does not have 28,422 dollars to send their child to Sidwell Friends like the Obama's. He along with congress is making a bad mistake.
Why can't we just strengthen the schools in the first place. Seriously. Rather than have to deal with changing around irrelevant pieces, and doing irrelevant crap let's just change the thing that ACTUALLY effects education.
Not where a child is educated... but HOW a child is educated. It's not about jobs being lost or gained it's about a school doubling in size but not having the resources, like books, desks, classroom size, teachers, etc... to deal with the new influx of children FFS!
Good luck at Wednesday's rally. Every parent should have a voucher to choose their children's school. it is their money, and it is being wasted in the public schools.
5 stars!
For blacks and hispanics a "C" average in low level classes is enough to win the scholarship.
For whites they need to achieve B or higher in higher level classes.
For Asians they pretty much have to have all A's and take college level classes.
Yeah, it is fair...
Obama took mostly low level classes and did mediocre in math and science yet he got into Harvard.
If these scholarship recipients could take on high level classes and get A's and score 100s in the standardized tests that the whites and Asians take, sure, use the tax dollars. Otherwise it is just wasting money on the low end of the I.Q. spectrum.
Hmmm.... wonder why this mother or this video said nothing about the different standards for different races?
Luis Luna Only mentally deficient people use (claim) the straw-man argument to prove a general case.
Did it ever dawn on you that a PUBLIC school is paid for by the public but not accountable to the public?
Fixed.
Many of the parents probably are not very involved. However, if the parents want to be involved and want their kids to have a better education, they should be able to use the same tax dollars that would be used for the bad schools in their districts. At least those kids are motivated and the money will be well spent. No one is suggesting that the unmotivated kids are given anything extra, but the ones who are trying should be supported.
To make matters worse, he sends his own kids to a private school while taking this opportunity away from other parents. He has a typical "I gots mine" attitude.
yep, sad...
Teachers Union needed to get paid, just like the UAW needs to get paid in the Crystler/GM bankruptcies.
I feel like the bigger problem is that you shouldn't have kids if you can't give them the best life possible. I feel like children is something you (plan ) for not( have) then expect everyone else to pick up the pieces.
Well it does, but then you still have to answer questions like in New York where it has a high population density, what exactly will happen to the schools that are already performing very well but don't have enough class rooms, books, or room to expand their building in order to allow newer students?
Where are they suddenly going to get all of that? How will it not negatively impact the children there?
How are we going to make sure that the new competition educate rather than indoctrinating?
They wouldn't be forced to improve. I used to live in a city where we had the choice of 2 schools within 20 miles 3 schools within 40 miles and the rest were 60 miles.
EVERY country that is not a 3rd world country scores better than us. Even 1 third world country does. But America is a much larger and more spread out country than MOST. China Russia, those are a bit different.
The 3 choices of schools in that area sucked, why not work on improving schools.
It is such a sad state of being when one see only government as the source of their salvation when history has proved and is still proving over and over again that there is no more oppressive tyrannical force than GOVERNMENT!
Well, i'm pissed. Keep up the good work Reason.
The teachers' unions hate vouchers because they think there will be less money for the public schools (because so many public schools are awful and don't improve). These unions aren't improving, and they're more concerned with their bottom line than with the students (or, they would be pro-voucher).
And in the case between bad and worse, all you'll ever get is death. I choose life. I refuse to sanction any form of evil. I will fight for what is right, even when I'm not given the option.
"ALL A DAT"..LOL
Obama answer questions??? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Journolist says "no."
I suspect there's a budget issue here - maybe the school district spends more money per student than the voucher program, but that doesn't mean the district saves money when a kid leaves the public school. So basically, you have a poor school system and you want an already strapped budget to pull an additional 18 million dollars from somewhere.
And btw, it's deceptive to compare the DC school system budget to national budgets - those big numbers you throw around only serve to manipulate folks.
what can we do to make the voucher program happen? public schools have been failing us for decades setting aside paraniod conspiricy theories i can't see why we would continue to poor money into a failed program when there id an alternative. we wanted change this is where that change is needed most
You do realize that countries like Canada, and denmark, and many other countries have lower poverty rates right?
The free market is nothing without accountability. This country is VERY terrible at accountability. It's hard to mobilize Americans for any ends.
What keeps people poor, is companies like wal-mart. It's a closed system. Worth billions at the top, very low paying at the bottom etc... Most people that work for wal-mart can only afford to shop at wal-mart hurting competition.
EVER, EVER, EVER.... (echoes into eternity)
*DEPENDENT
This is a good question. You might ask yourself the bigger question, why does anyone in this country deserve an education of any sort?
If we agree that taxpayer-paid for education is a good thing, then why don't are taxpayer dollars go to the institutions which do the best job (and at nearly half the cost)?
Every student should have the freedom to take $8000 of taxpayer funds and apply it to any school of his and his parents' choice. If this bankrupts public schools, so be it.
Like I'm a Libertarian not a Republican. The Republicans are full of it too. There is one Republican who I really like and thats Ron Paul.
Government giving money to a school is not regulation. A regulation is a limit. a law, or a rule.
These schools are being given money for under performing.
That would be like your father saying "If you do terribly in school you will get more money, but if you do well in school you obviously won't need the money and therefor won't get it."
I'm arguing that schools need limits, and are provided with help to reach above those limits, in order to get funding or else fail through regulations.
Ladies, I want to know just WHY you voted for him and stumped for him? You should have seen this coming.
It isn't just about the cost to the tax payer, but the freedom of thought that is lost when government controls our education.
I distinguish points when I type with caps on as well.
Let me use one last analogy for you.
If the PARENTS decided with their OWN money that THEY want to send THEIR kid to a school that will teach THEIR kids that the earth is FLAT and not round... That's their choice right? Even if THEY want THEIR kids with THEIR money to be taught that the sun revolves around the EARTH, it's THEIR choice right?
We need a system set up that values facts, truth, and science over mere uneducated choices.
You see? Obama has killed programs such as this one! Ugh. Thanks Mig for featuring this video.!
forget the voucher programs... make ALL schools better by investing in public education. your kids don't need private schools to do better - they need better schools in general.
@UBchick33, DC schools already spend around $20 grand per studernt. More money won't fix anything, you need to give PARENTS the power to decide where & how to school their kids. A voucher system does just that.
So are we going to give vouchers to every student in a poor performing public school? Surely these better schools can't handle everyone in the area.
So the voucher program will make the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Educationally speaking.
Improving schools across the board is a much more logical way to solve the problem.
"Public Money"?! That money comes from people like Mercedes mother. Barack Obama isn't writing a check for the DC public school system, the taxpayers of the District are. And $7500 a year ain't much in comparison to what a two income family has paid into that system on their own. Vouchers aren't a "bandaid" they allow a -small- level of incentive for schools to earn students.
Free, self-sufficient, well-educated black people are the Democrat party's worst nightmare.
What's Obama's reply to this?
"Yes we can?"
You want the government to give a 1 size fits all shoe to answer all the problems from every single area. So are we supposed to give each and every kid the same exact amount of money?
Even when the cost of living is obscenely high there? What about if the cost of living is obscenely low?
My argument is that we need to use the scientific method to fix the educational system. In other words if a program doesn't work for the situation throw it out, if it does work for that situation use it.
Second, I have been a church-going Christian my entire life and I've never heard of any parent denying their child medical treatment because "medicine is evil". That sounds like crazy cult stuff.
...And third, also nonsense.
BO is getting rid of Democracy, or hadn't you noticed?!!
I'll sum up the problem with 1 word. PEOPLE.
If the government is the problem it's because people are put into power, aren't held accountable, are re-elected even when they have proven not to be trusthworthy, etc... They need to flush out the bad congressmen
Parents need to be more active overall. There is no reason a single school board should be leaning creationist.
You have to blame parents for the problems because if the school board won't do anything they have to replace the school board
So 18,000,000 dollars divided by 7500 dollars per student means that this program helps 2,400 students. How many students in total are in the public school system?
You know they say the same thing about Kim Jong iI, in another part of the world. But I digress.
@ZsTARR64 This isn't about the rich keeping kids down, its politicians who want an uneducated public who will vote for them no matter how bad they treat them. It's also about Unions and other special interests who line the pockets of the politicians.
Two wrongs do not make a right. A voucher system (funded by tax dollars) is entirely immoral. Whether it works better than another immoral program is a non-issue. Reason should be calling for the end to all government funded education programs. Not attempting to defend one morally bankrupt program that happens to be more practical than all the other morally bankrupt government programs.
Libertarians are Jeffersonian Republicans. The Libertarian party may be a new comer but not the party platform. Libertarians actually had to branch off and form a party of its own because the Republican party turned away from its roots. Libertarians are the original Republicans but now the modern Republican party has become just milder flavor of collectivist progressivism.
Just to update. In the event, this change never happened and the White House/Obama eventually announced that they would cease trying to impose it.
Mushroom, your public school education is evidence of the need for school choice.
The constitution give us freedom of religion not freedom from religion. Parents can send their children to a secular charter school, a religious school, or their current government school of welfare indoctrination, its their choice. Choice shouldn't be solely reserved to infanticide.
i feel WE could make more drastic cuts in other spots to save programs like this but someting needs to be done about gov spending. i dig "school choice" but i dig CUTTING gov spending more. the young laidy at 2:45 in this vid doesnt need gov to make sure she has an opportunity. it is her job to be a good person, keep at it and keep moving. dont get bogged down now! WE cant wait for obama to fix all the bumps in ower lives. please dont take this the wrong way. (WE= we the people)
Well a lot of areas only have a choice of 2-4 schools in 60 mile areas. But lets take New York as an example. They have a TON of schools possibly hundreds all within a 15 mile radius. They hold lottos to get into the good schools. Now what would happen if you open up the flood gates? Thousands of kids would flood into a school suddenly.
Where will they get the teachers? Class Space? Books? Computers? etc.. They can't build that much infastructure all at once.
Improve them all first THEN vouch
I understand how it works. The problem is though if the parents decide what school they want to send their kid, some schools will get so filled up that it will ruin the overall education. The whole educational system is fucked and needs HEAVY remodeling.
But tell me this. If we go to a voucher system, how will it help the children that are in the only school available to them. Are they going to have to take a bus 60+ miles to go somewhere they can get a decent education?
That's my major issue.
I was speaking to Sandandkhoi btw.
Good question? Where is Oprah, 60 minutes, MSNBC?
So, yes, actually they -could- "work for all students". Unless you believe that the public system is -so- -bad- that -no- -one- would choose to stay in it?
How about this compromise: allow for vouchers to be taken to any institution that meets the same educational requirements as public schools. This would prevent some objections about Creationism being taught and, as Hillary Clinton put it, kids attending "the school of the Jihad." I really think that's the only rational objection to vouchers - that they might go to fund quacky religious schools.
Where is the NYT, NBC, ABC and CBS on this story? CNN and Fox have shown this story. And as was said earlier, can anyone imagine if President Bush had stopped this program rather than Obama? The mainstream media would be on this daily. Since the mainstream media LOVES Obama, they are SILENT on this matter. And the kids suffer and are subjected to a substandard education.
Some Black Democrats may not like vouchers, but many more like charters, and even when they don't, if you point out more Black politicians and teachers put their children in private school when compared to the general population, and that Black parents of children in school, when given a chance, choose charters and/or vouchers, there is no disagreement that options should exist.
google "the beautiful tree." its from cato about how the worlds poorest countries educate themselves through private schools even though there are government schools.
IKR
well, mr. president? why?
didn't you used to be for school choice and public education reform? wasn't that what the annenberg project was about?