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A Rocky Mountain News writer explores Utah's new program:

This will now give parents of modest means options that the well-to-do have long enjoyed. Their school-age children will no longer be a captive audience. Parents will be empowered as educational consumers, giving them choices and leverage consumers enjoy in all other spheres of our market economy.

. . . Private schools are held to account in the most effective way possible - they're accountable to their customers who are free to take their business elsewhere if they're not satisfied.

Read the full text.

4 Comments:

 Anonymous said...

In response to a comment on an earlier post, I, for one, enjoy all of the voucher updates, so thanks for that. Please keep them coming. For a political junkie like me, the entire voucher program and referendum battle (UEA directly challenging the Legislature) fascinate me.

I was very encouraged to hear a radio ad today from the Republican Party about the education spending increases and the voucher program from this session. I really hope that the Governor, supportive legislators, and others have the courage to lead a very public battle to keep the voucher program if the UEA gets enough signatures to get it on the ballot. I'm confident that once people really understand what it does and doesn't do, there will be more support.

Unfortunately, many people now mistakenly think that the voucher program hurts public education funding. But there will be a full year and a half to set the record straight. And once the funding issue's off the table, none of the other arguments hold water in my opinion.

I hope if it does clear the referendum hurdle that the program can be expanded even more, especially for lower income people who are the ones most stuck in terms of options when public schools aren't working for them.

As a sidenote, I also think a defeat at the ballot box will significantly reduce UEA's influence and possibly be the beginning of the end for them politically. It seems like they've put a large number of their eggs in this one fragile basket.

3/22/2007 5:44 PM  

 Craig said...

I found Mike Rosen's column offensive. Consider this tripe:

>>They covet their power to set the agenda, to dictate subject matter and educational techniques, to influence impressionable young minds and mold the next generation of liberal activists. They've turned their government schools into laboratories for social engineering, downgrading basic academics and old-fashioned notions of American exceptionalism, patriotism and individualism in favor of collectivism, political correctness, diversity, environmentalism, feminism, and delusional self-esteem. They have a death grip on these schools that they're loath to release.

PURE CRAP! As a product of Utah's public schools, never once did I have a teacher who encouraged me to be mediocre or who didn't respect me as an individual. These old, worn-out stereotypes don't fly and it doesn't advance the debate to quote them.

I will admit that I had teachers who taught me to value and respect others even when they don't believe the way I do. Boy, those darn liberals, teaching us to get along with other people.

You guys can do better than to align yourselves with silly partisans like Mike Rosen. Or were you "just reporting"???

Sincerely,

Craig.

3/22/2007 9:55 PM  

 Anonymous said...

As a voucher supporter whose kids all attend (and will attend) public schools, I agree with Craig that Mr. Rosen overdid it a bit. Most educators are hard-working and sincerely work to educate our state's children. They're not out to ruin the world and secretly indoctrinate our children.

That being said, I don't think it's unfair to assert that the education establishment response to the voucher bill clearly demonstrates that maintaining an education monopoly is more important than reducing class size for some educators.

3/23/2007 8:10 AM  

 Anonymous said...

I will admit that I had teachers who taught me to value and respect others even when they don't believe the way I do.

..................
Jayasinghe

Wow, check out this site called www.fluc.com
. Free SMS and free mobile ads!! Its fantastic

5/08/2008 12:43 AM  

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