Letters to the Editor - Examples
Suggestions:
Vouchers 'welfare' for private schools
I keep hearing proponents say that vouchers will give parents "choice." Vouchers are not about choice; vouchers are about money. If the voucher constitutional amendment wins this November, it will mean an enormous new welfare program for private schools.
There are now about 220,000 private school students in Michigan. If each of these students were to receive a $3,500 voucher, it would cost taxpayers $770 million. Worse, this is a constitutional amendment, not just a law.
Parents have a wide range of school choice right now: public schools, charter schools, private school, home schools, schools of choice. Vouchers are not about choice - they are about hundreds of millions of tax dollars flowing to private schools.
Tom Regan
Clawson
(Appearing in the September 14, 2000 edition of The Oakland Press)
Vouchers promote separatist attitude
My changing neighborhood has diverse nationalities and languages.
Will communication difficulties impair our future? The adults can’t learn several languages. The solution must be in the children. The best way for kids to learn to communicate and work together is in public schools.
Unfortunately, proposed vouchers can be used for non-public schools that promote separation or superiority based on factors such as ethnicity, language, religion or race. Thus, the best decision for the future of our neighborhoods and our state is to vote NO on school vouchers.
JANET CHAMBERLAIN, Troy
(Appearing in the August 16, 2000 edition of the Oakland Press)
Opposes voucher plan
JACKSON -- The American Association of University Women is a strong supporter of public education. As co-president of the Jackson branch of AAUW, I urge you to vote "no" on the school voucher proposal on Nov. 7. A "no" vote will help save Michigan public schools. If the voucher proposal should pass, it would cut public school funding drastically and could result in an increase in local and state taxes to provide the current level of support to the public schools. Private schools do not have to accept vouchers, nor would they have to accept all students who apply. Private schools often do not provide the extensive individual support required by students with educational or physical limitations. Vouchers would not ensure expanded educational opportunities for low- or middle-income families who might not be able to pay the difference between the tuition and fees and the voucher amount. Vouchers destroy accountability, as private schools do not have to report what and how they teach. A "no" vote on Nov. 7 is the right choice. PATRICIA RIGGS (Appearing in the August 22, 2000 edition of the Jackson Citizen Patriot) Voucher-related issues JACKSON -- Along with voucher financing of private schools comes accountability. It’s time to start thinking about the methods to be implemented to ensure that the voucher dollars are being spent in the best interest of the students and taxpaying public, rather than the students and the private school-sponsoring organization. Accountability includes such things as minority makeup of the students and teachers, teacher qualifications, curriculum makeup, hours of instruction, percent of dropouts and graduations, school-sponsored after-hours organization functions, teacher pay and many other similar issues that are required by pubic financed identities. A vote for a voucher system is also a vote for increased public control over the operation of the private school that accepts voucher money. I also believe that vouchers will be catalysts that will accelerate public control that will worm its way into the private school systems regardless of the acceptance of voucher money. BILL LOLL
(Appearing in the August 24, 2000 edition of the Jackson Citizen Patriot)
Voucher proposal didn’t invent concept of testing teachers
As a teacher, I find the voucher proposal on the state November ballot offensive. This is not because I’m afraid of losing my job, it is because some people believe that a 4-year degree and mandatory continuing education to keep that degree are not enough to properly educate children. The voucher proposal calls for teacher testing. I’m sure most people are not aware that teachers have to pass a state test in their academic areas before they are granted a certificate. This is not a new concept, but the voucher supporters would have you think so.
Vouchers may seem like the way to go for private schools, but how long will it be before the state wants some control in those schools? Michigan will not give money without a say in how things are run. There are no free lunches.
There are problems in the public school arena, and there are problems in the private school areana. To defeat vouchers is a chance for Michigan voters to show they believe in what public school teachers are doing. If parents want to make a difference in their child’s education, then they should become involved at their child’s school. That’s the real choice.
Steve Zielinski
Fraser
(Appearing in the August 22, 2000 edition of the Macomb Daily)
Vouchers are no guarantee child will be accepted
I have to respond to Joe Klesney's letter about school vouchers ("Vouchers will eliminate disparity among students").
First, as a parent advocate of children with disabilities, I am not aware of any public school in Michigan that has turned away a child based on academic skills, behavior or disabilities, as Klesney claims.
If there is one, I'd like to see proof.
Second, how do vouchers guarantee per-pupil funding in every district?
If I and five of my friends choose to take our children out of a public school and send them to private schools, the public school loses the total dollar amount for those children. How is this guaranteed pupil funding? It most certainly would lower the resources available to the public school district by taking away thousands of dollars.
If I send my child to a private school funded by a voucher, the private school only gets half of the per pupil amount. What happens to the other half? It does not stay in the public school.
It stays in the Michigan school funding pot, so the local district loses all the money for that child. Has anyone ever thought to ask what will the state do with that other half?
It's a lot like the lottery money that's supposed to go to public schools.
Third, if it takes a voucher system to test our teachers, then we are doing something wrong.
The state could require districts to test teachers without implementing a voucher program.
If you want to send your child to a private school, then do so, but don't use my tax money to pay for it. It would be interesting to see that if the vouchers program did pass, how many parents would complain when their private school of choice did not accept their child.
Klesney is right about one thing: Private schools will retain their selectivity in accepting students. The bottom line is that a voucher is not a guarantee that your child will be accepted into a private school.
GERALYN FRIEDRICH, Eastpointe
(Appearing in the August 17, 2000 edition of the Macomb Daily)
Return to Letters to the Editor