Posted by
voice_of_reason on Friday, March 16, 2007 6:13:47 PM
Neither side has it right, unfortunately, on fixing our K-12 education system.
The suggestions from both sides are minor - involving patchwork to a system that is failing miserably!
Republicans: local control (state level), more money, some accountability .. blah, blah
Democrats: Federal control, more money .. blah, blah
Of the two 'patchwork' solutions, I happen to favor (slightly) the Republican version - but c'mon .. don't any of these politicians get the fact that as a country, we erred grossly when we put K-12 education into the hands of the Govt? Would it matter significantly if it was the State Govt instead of the Federal Govt?
How long will we taxpayers accept band-aids on a gushing wound?
What we need is a 10yr phased privatization of K-12 education.
PHASE1 (1st five yrs)
* school choice - vouchers that are redeemable at any accredited private or public school for every eligible kid
* tax deductibility of tuition to any accredited private school
PHASE2 (next five yrs)
* school choice - vouchers ONLY for the poor, redeemable at accredited private and public schools
* tax relief for everyone else
* end tax deductibility of tuition
PHASE3 (the future)
* no more public schools
* vouchers ONLY for the poor, redeemable at accredited private schools (now a flourishing, self-sustaining part of the economy)
What would the effect be on all the players: teachers, administrators, students and parents?
Teachers & administrators: more pay for competence
Students & parents: higher quality, more choice, lower cost