Dana at Principled Discovery takes a look at the Founders, the Constitution, and education. (Hat tip: this week’s Carnival of Education, hosted by A History Teacher.)
This post is actually quite relevant to something I’ve been working on over the past couple of days. Stay tuned–it should come out very soon.
The Springfield (Missouri) News-Leader featured an editorial on vouchers over the weekend. I’m going to quote a lengthier passage than I usually do, because I want to illustrate something in context:
Critics of public schools who support vouchers — allowing public money to be used by students to pay for private education — most often point to one word when making their case: accountability.
Those who believe the public schools aren’t doing their job suggest vouchers will be the ultimate accountability tool.
Parents who are dissatisfied can take their money and go elsewhere.
The problem is, vouchers provide no accountability at all.
When applied in a system that involves spending public money on private schools, a voucher system will do one of two things:
It will provide no accountability because the long arm of government has no control over private schools.
Or it will bring accountability by allowing the government to exercise some control over private schools because public money will be involved.
One of our key assertions is that parents provide serious accountability. The editorial staff clearly disagrees…but why? Rather than give some reason or explanation for why we might be wrong, they merely cut to other aspects of the accountability argument. Come on, News-Leader–why do you believe parents provide no accountability? You say we’re wrong, so tell us how.
I do applaud the editorial board for endorsing public school choice. But if they’re going to oppose vouchers, it would be nice if they told the whole story.
The Springfield (Missouri) News-Leader featured an editorial on vouchers over the weekend. I’m going to quote a lengthier passage than I usually do, because I want to illustrate something in context:
Critics of public schools who support vouchers — allowing public money to be used by students to pay for private education — most often point to one word when making their case: accountability.
Those who believe the public schools aren’t doing their job suggest vouchers will be the ultimate accountability tool.
Parents who are dissatisfied can take their money and go elsewhere.
The problem is, vouchers provide no accountability at all.
When applied in a system that involves spending public money on private schools, a voucher system will do one of two things:
It will provide no accountability because the long arm of government has no control over private schools.
Or it will bring accountability by allowing the government to exercise some control over private schools because public money will be involved.
One of our key assertions is that parents provide serious accountability. The editorial staff clearly disagrees…but why? Rather than give some reason or explanation for why we might be wrong, they merely cut to other aspects of the accountability argument. Come on, News-Leader–why do you believe parents provide no accountability? You say we’re wrong, so tell us how.
I do applaud the editorial board for endorsing public school choice. But if they’re going to oppose vouchers, it would be nice if they told the whole story.
Incoming superintendent seeks ideas to reform schools - South Carolina State Education Superintendent-elect Jim Rex asked leaders from across the state Tuesday to help him make South Carolina the "most fairly funded, innovative, and choice-driven public school system in the nation" in four years.
The wrong debate - Ed Week commentary - Once again, we have been treated to a debate over the meaning and policy implications of research comparing the performance of students in public schools and private schools.
Kids with disabilities unassisted in Texas schools - Chances are you know a kid who needs special education, after all, better than one in ten Texas students has some kind of disability.
Deeper issues in school vouchers - Maine has 145 school districts with no high schools. Parents of 17,000 students have the choice of sending their children to any school anywhere, public or private..
Check back later for more education news.
UPDATE:
Janey Asks for Time to Turn Around Schools - In a major address designed to help him keep his job, D.C. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey delivered a robust defense last night of his two-year record as leader of the city’s beleaguered school system and urged city leaders to allow him to finish the work he has started to move schools forward.
Schools asks court to revive challenge to education mandate - School districts in three states and the nation’s largest teachers union asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to revive a lawsuit challenging the way a government education program is funded.
Teachers see benefits of No Child law, but have concerns - While Lancaster County, Pennsylvania teachers overwhelmingly said that they like that the law has held them accountable for how they educate children, they worry it has also caused students to miss out on other vital, aspects of education.
Letting Business Help: The Promise of Education Tax Credits - Opinion: With recent election results splitting control of the national government, legislators must now confront the challenge of crafting bipartisan initiatives. There is a prime opportunity for enlisting such broad support, which has not yet been fully developed: educational choice.
Some Children Left Behind - Although their explanations differ, Illinois and Montana have both failed miserably in complying with the controversial federal education reform law.
Problem: Find the slope and y-intercept of the equation 10 = x – 2.5.
Solution: The equation 10 = x – 2.5 is a specific case of the equation y = x – 2.5, which has a slope of 1 and a y-intercept of –2.5.
More “School Math Books, Nonsense, and the National Science Foundation (David Klein)”
