Romney backs vouchers, more school choice

[Cow Poke]

Any number of reasons: different curriculum choices, better location for commuting, more competitive athletic teams...etc. etc. etc.

But the only thing, IMO, keeping public schools from changing is the teacher's unions. I have been on school boards in the past where we have tried to fire teachers for horrendous conduct, but the teachers' unions wouldn't allow it. "Contracts". Parents would be outraged, but it didn't matter. And while we couldn't round up enough money to hire teachers, there always seemed to be budget for a "Curriculum consultant" or some other Educrat. It was, at times, infuriating.

Public schools are funded per capita. The fewer students, the less money comes in.

Well, sure, but if they're doing as good a job as you indicate, and they have the ABILITY to change, that shouldn't be a problem. Do you really believe that people en mass will leave the public schools? If so - there must be something wrong.

I think that over all I've understood it the same way. But less dollars after a certain point do make a difference. Especially when it's the difference between being able to but text books or not.

My granddaugther (High School) was just telling me yesterday that they had a shortage of books, and many of the students share. Anecdotal, I know, but I've seen similar reports on the Houston News Channels.

Of course, in the interested of full disclosure I'm a product of private schooling. And in as much as I can afford it I'll be sending my kids through private education. But I also don't expect any voucher from the government either.

I'm a public school product, nearly bombing out in my sophomore year, but somehow managing to rally and graduate with honors as a senior. We home schooled our children, as I mentioned, at our own expense. If vouchers had been available, since I'm paying "school taxes", I would certainly have availed myself of them.

[Little Shepherd]

Well, sure, but if they're doing as good a job as you indicate, and they have the ABILITY to change, that shouldn't be a problem. Do you really believe that people en mass will leave the public schools? If so - there must be something wrong.

I see people argue that if students leave public schools due to vouchers, public schools will lose money. This kind of misses that that's the whole point of vouchers in the first place. Lose your students, lose your money, and this is a very, very good thing. It also misses the point that the school needs that money in the first place in order to serve the child that comes with it. If the child isn't in their school, then what do they still need the money for anyway? As long as they're receiving what they need to serve the children they actually have in their care, they have no right to complain.

[Cow Poke]

I see people argue that if students leave public schools due to vouchers, public schools will lose money. This kind of misses that that's the whole point of vouchers in the first place. Lose your students, lose your money, and this is a very, very good thing. It also misses the point that the school needs that money in the first place in order to serve the child that comes with it. If the child isn't in their school, then what do they still need the money for anyway? As long as they're receiving what they need to serve the children they actually have in their care, they have no right to complain.

I think that they public school system is much more top-heavy with administrators and "executives" than private schools are. So, if the public schools "lose the money", they're hurting because they still have big salaries to pay. And I mean "big" relative to the teachers who actually do the job.

So, LS, I think you and I are probably on the same page(s) on a lot of this... the loss of revenue to public school districts MAY wake them up and force them to realize they need to do a better job more efficiently.