School Vouchers are NOT the Solution

One of the primary reasons for parents choosing to send their child to a private school is due to the many pre-conceived notions that private schools carry regarding their overall reputations. There are three main misconceptions that will be addressed here. These misconceptions are: the misconception of parental choice in selecting a school; more qualified teachers with the most current teaching knowledge; and the myth that private schools are more successful than public schools.

Many proponents of a nationwide standardized voucher program argue that such a system will provide parents and students with the opportunity to choose the school in which the child will attend. In fact, the opposite is true. Unlike public schools that are required by law to accept every child, private schools can choose who their students will be. Private schools do not need to accept the fifth grader who is autistic or the eighth grader reading at a third grade level. These factors simplify education and therefore further resources can be placed on the “norm” as opposed to students with disabilities. Indeed, in the voucher system, there is very little parental choice instead the choice is dependent on the private institution (Myth vs. Fact, 2002).

The misconception of parental choice can also correlate to the next misconception, which is that private schools are more successful than public schools. This idea is misleading as well. To date, there is no statistical data that shows private schools are achieving at a greater level than students in public schools. The reason for this can be several fold. First, we have the issue of accountability; second, we have the issue of the liberty of private schools to pick and choose their students;...

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...ristian Schools International responded with, “No… every class is permeated with Christian religious viewpoint.” We can argue that these responses only further exemplify the need of a separation between church and state.

The separation of church and state is one of the most cherished features of our democracy. A voucher system would compel taxpayers to subsidize religious teachings with which they may disagree. Instead of relying on vouchers to “save” the American educational system, we should continue to search for solutions that will be available to every student such as: smaller classes, improved teacher training, and adequate resources. Voucher programs clearly fall short of the separation of church and state notion. Let us not undermine the great tradition of this separation, and continue to take into account the important legacy of the First Amendment.