The idea
is to give parents a choice to move their child or children from their current
school to another school. The theory is
that schools need competition to improve.
Most
Americans prefer “neighborhood schools”, particularly in the elementary grades.
The problem of maintaining classes composed of similarly skilled students is
more complicated than ever. Parents who have children with “learning
disabilities” and autism and other issues that require special handling seem to
be on the rise and we don’t know what causes these problems.
I would
be happy with public schools who don’t indoctrinate the students with liberal
propaganda, environmental extremism, revisionist history LGBT and Muslim
indoctrination using political correctness to enforce the brainwashing. I would
be happy with public schools who concentrated on reading, writing and math
skill development.
I would
prefer school boards who had control over the curriculum and were responsive to
the parents, teachers and students. I would prefer that school boards not spend
all of their money on building multi-million dollar schools using Bonds. I
would remove State and Federal regulations and lawsuits from schools. I would reduce county school bureaucracy to a
minimum. I would offer internet high
school and internet enhances part-time schools.
I think
students should be responsible for learning the reading, writing and math
skills they need to keep up with their class. I believe schools are the
business of counties and cities.
I don’t
think that the State or Federal government should take on the responsibility
for the functioning of public schools or any schools. Assuming that graduation
rates have any effect on economic development or attracting businesses to your
State is ridiculous.
The case
for vouchers is to give parents who pay their property taxes a choice
Vouchers
would allow parents to widen their list of choices beyond large public school
systems to private schools, but transportation logistics will get worse.
Vouchers for home-schoolers would be an unforeseen benefit to this group.
Vouchers for private school families would also be an unforeseen benefit. The
cost of private elementary schools can be $8000 per year.
If the
Vouchers are given to reflect the school tax portion of your property tax, that
would vary from about $2000 to $4000 per year.
The cost per child in public schools is closer to $13.000 per year. The
balance is coming from State taxes.
If the
vouchers are given based on the cost per child, renters could be included, but
the State would still be on the hook.
The
problem with charter schools will be vetting private start-up schools. Gulen is
an educational corporation headquartered in Turkey. Their teachers are all
Muslim. They operate charter schools in
the US. This is not a good idea.
Charter
Schools have mixed reviews depending on that kind of charter schools you’ve had
in the past. This term has no particular meaning to most parents. These have
been public schools with a little more autonomy
Pensions
for teachers are already in trouble because of low interest rates and a flaky
stock market. Teachers need to be moved
to a 401k plan with some “age weighted” plan to supplement teachers who are
close to retirement. Pension eligibility after 30 years must end. All
retirements should hinge on age 66.
Special
Education Teachers are scattered throughout the large public school systems and
these specialists will continue to be needed.
Medication
for attention deficit disorder needs to be questioned. Too many teachers want their rowdy 2nd
grade boys to take the medication, but lots of moms attribute their child’s
lack of attention to their age.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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