ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 TAG: 9608280009
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL LALIK
ONE THING schools don't need is vouchers.
The concept keeps coming back, especially in presidential-election years. Bob Dole recently proposed a program to allow parents to apply for government money to pay tuition to private and parochial schools. This would take money from national and state programs that supplement the Roanoke schools' budget and the budgets of most surrounding counties and cities. Despite the important role that private and parochial schools play in American Education for specific groups, they should not be receiving public money.
A voucher is a piece of paper issued by the government. Families who receive the voucher may use it to pay fully or partially for a child's education in any school or grade. The family gives the voucher to the public or private school where the child is enrolled. The school sends it to the government for reimbursement. The original school loses the student and the funds.
The concept seems reasonable. But the results may be the beginning of the end for public education. Let me share my reasons with you:
* Vouchers for religious schools are unconstitutional.
Religious schools, which make up the bulk of nonpublic schools, would be in line for most voucher funds. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment says it is not a proper function of government to subsidize any schools, directly or indirectly, whose chief reason for being is propagating a religious faith. Voucher programs most likely will trigger an onslaught of wasteful litigation. No federal or state court has ever upheld using vouchers in religious schools.
* Vouchers don't really give parents a choice.
Private or parochial schools are under no obligation to accept students. Public schools must accept all children who apply. Thus, even if families have the money, their child may not be able to attend the school they choose. The private or parochial school does the choosing, not the parent.
* Vouchers don't guarantee a child will remain in school even if accepted.
Private and parochial schools "expel their mistakes," such as students who don't meet their standards. If you saw the movie "Hoop Dreams," you saw a parochial school choose one student-athlete and drop another.
* Vouchers don't assure better schools.
There is no evidence that vouchers will lead to better schools. Milwaukee has had a voucher program for six years. After many evaluations, there has been no evidence that children do better or worse. By the way, the Milwaukee program is being challenged in court.
* Vouchers and accountability do not go hand in hand.
Schools that receive public-voucher monies would not necessarily be asked to account for their funds or adhere to nondiscriminatory hiring practices, and they can deny children admission. Public schools must be accountable in these areas and many more.
* Vouchers do not safeguard equal educational opportunity for all children.
Much likelier is that affluent parents will take advantage of the vouchers and poor parents won't. Private schools competing for voucher monies are much likelier to market to well-to-do families, just as competing businesses target the top-paying customers.
* Vouchers will weaken public education.
Vouchers will siphon funds - and top students - from public schools, leaving a weaker, poorer public education for the "misfits" that private schools do not want. Most public schools are already strapped. Losing funds, when students transfer, will result in fewer services. Classes will get larger; support services, such as reading specialists and counselors, will be reduced; teachers will not have as much training.
* Vouchers will not encourage tolerance and diversity - something that must happen in this nation.
Schools may revert to segregation by race, class and religion. I feel we would lose a public-education system that over the years has provided an opportunity for the children of all economic and social classes, and all racial, ethnic and religious groups, to have a common experience in obtaining an education. This common experience has been the only unifying force to bring the diverse citizens of this country to the current level of oneness among our population. The loss of our public-education system could lead to development of a Balkan mentality within our shores.
* Vouchers will not stimulate competition among schools.
Real competition is fair. There is nothing fair in the competition between public and private schools. Private schools choose their students; public schools don't. Thus, public schools serve a much higher proportion of poor, disadvantaged, minority, physically and mentally challenged, and immigrant students.
Aside from politicians - and, understandably, many religious schools - Americans don't want vouchers. In the many states that have put vouchers on the ballot, voters have rejected them. Poll after poll confirms that Americans want their public schools to thrive.
The next time you read or hear about vouchers' being the answer to education's woes, the salvation for poor families and the only way for parents to have a real choice in schools, I hope you will think again. And I hope you will continue to support the public schools of Roanoke and of the entire state.
Bill Lalik is principal of Monterey Elementary School, a public school in Roanoke.
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