Who should the money for education go to?
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
June 15, 2011 1:39am CST
I get news for two states, Wisconsin and Minnesota and both are having discussions over state funding of education. The argument is the same in both states the state needs to spend more money on Public Schools. I started to think is the governments responsibility to fund public schools or to provide an education for students? If the role of the state is to support the Public Schools then no money should go to private schools (right now many of the programs have to be offered to both public and private schools paid for by the state and federal government). The school would have total control over what is taught and the parents have no say in the program.
If the states responsibility is to provide for the education of all students then the money (the same amount per child) should follow the child and it should be the same for all children rich or poor. In this case it should be up to the parents to see that the child was educated and the only role the state would have would to see that the children were not abuse or use in an illegal manner and the parents would have a choice and say in how ans what was taught to their children.
Should the state fund public schools or should it fund the child's education?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I am very much in agreement with you on the issue of spending for a child's education. I believe that is what the education voucher programs in some states are meant to accomplish, although the jury is still out on the effectiveness of that program. I have always believed that funding public schools results in educational inequalities. Mind you, I am a product of the New York City public school system attending school in the South Bronx. I know for a fact that the education I received was not equal to that of other areas of the country.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
24 Jun 11
I certainly agree there should be no difference between the rich and the poor when it comes to our children's education which is why it has to be up to the government to fund PUBLIC schools and I think it should be ONLY public schools. If parents choose to send their kids to private school, that's up to them, but I'm totally opposed to private school vouchers being paid for out of our tax dollars because all children don't have an equal opportunity to go to private school even WITH vouchers. From what I've seen, the amount of the proposed vouchers wouldn't come close to covering the full tuition at most private schools and in my area in most cases it parents have to provide their own transportation for their child or children. Clearly, that wouldn't benefit poor or even most middle income families. Our children's education should be one of our top priorities because our children ARE our future and they all deserve an equal chance at a good education.
Annie
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
29 Jun 11
And the money that goes to public schools in doing what? The poorest (income) students are in the worst schools in the country. In almost every case where vouchers are used the student achievement is the same or better. Because of Union contracts the better teachers move to the best schools and new or poor teachers go to the worst schools in the district. In larger districts it is common to offer a transfer in exchange for a better evaluation. Public Schools are not the answer as they are presently structured. Parents are not welcomed in Public Schools despite all the talk to the contrary. Most teacher do not communicate, except through report cards, with parents. Most parent teacher conferences are scripted so that parents do not have time to really question teachers. Even now many parent conferences are being scheduled during the day forcing parents to time off of work to hear about their children.
Many private schools require parental involvement and the parents get to know the teachers. Education should be a contract between the parents and the school. Each on setting down expectations of each other. That is the way to improve education.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Jun 11
I think we're suffering from a miscommunication here, Bob. I know there are problems in many public school systems but that doesn't mean public education in general is bad or should be scrapped. In the school district I attended, parents were very much welcome; the same can be said about the district where my husband and my daughter went. The school district my grandchildren now attend is even better when it comes to communication between teachers and parents and accommodating parents who work or have otherwise busy schedules.
You didn't address at all the problems that would arise if school vouchers became the norm throughout the nation. Do you think it's acceptable that the children from poorer districts and families would be left behind even more than they are now? The gap between the rich and the poor is already too big and the children of rich parents already have a huge head start on the children from lower income families.
There are problems with many public schools, I'm certainly not disputing that, but we need to work to fix them, not get rid of the whole premise of public education. If someone chooses to send their kids to a private school and they can afford to do so, that's certainly their right; however, it's not an option for every family so taking money away from public schools and giving it to private schools is not the answer.
Annie
