Death by Voucher!

Death by Voucher!

By Ray Pavlak, Winsted

Judy and I viewed the program Point, Counterpoint on local cable TV channel 13 on Monday, July 8. After hearing the participants sing the praises of the voucher as the solution for the problems of the public schools, we wondered, "What are people who support vouchers doing on the school board?" On the one hand they took an oath to support the public schools and to provide the best public school system possible for our students. On the other hand they support the vouchers, which could kill the public schools.

We know the public schools, like every human endeavor, have problems—but we believe siphoning off tax moneys appropriated for the operation of the public schools to give to private schools will just add to the problem. Losing concerned parents and their motivated children will certainly not help the situation.

Champions of vouchers assure us that encouraging competition between private and public schools will lead to better public schools. Before buying a pig in a poke, they should give us hard, objective facts and proof rather then soft, subjective feelings and hopes.

Hey, taxpayers, there are many things to consider before jumping on the voucher bandwagon. Will federal and state grants have to be shared? Where will state funding go? If the private school needs to expand, will the state pay a portion? Who will pay the town's share? Will the state have oversight authority regarding the quality of education the kids are getting in the private schools? Will taxpayers have any say about how the private schools are carrying out the education of the voucher kids? Will the voucher parents serve as equal members on the private school boards, whether they are secular or parochial?

We taxpayers are having a hard enough time controlling what goes on in our public schools, such as salaries and programs. How much say will we have about what goes on in private schools? I don't know about you, but I want to know how my money is being spent. Just think about it!

Before we try the voucher solution, let's stop and take the time to listen and see what happens to the Cleveland public schools during the next five or ten years as the city experiments with vouchers. If vouchers lead to a better public school system there, I will more likely become a believer!