That article really has me thinking.
But one of the depressing things about it is, the leaders of the state not really acknowledging the gains and pushing for vouchers instead. That must be discouraging for the folks in those states doing the work.
Well keep in mind, the article is an op-ed piece written by Nicholas Kristoff,
a self-described progressive who has never met a government program he does not like.
Morevover most teachers do nost see vouchers as a threat (except in districts that are very smal and have an overall enrollment problem.)
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Of course. He’s very open about his political leanings. One of the things that makes that piece so interesting.
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Over 40% of recent college graduates consistently report that they are working a job for which no degree is required.
(Current number = 42.5%)
Highest Underemployment Rates (2024–2025) ---- % Underemployed
Criminal Justice: ---- 65.8%
Performing Arts: ---- 63.9%
Fine Arts: ---- 58.9%
Leisure and Hospitality: ---- 58.1%
Agriculture: ---- 57.1%
Anthropology: ---- 55.3%
Liberal Arts: ---- 54.6%
Foreign Language: ---- 54.0%
Animal and Plant Sciences: ---- 53.5%
Communications: ---- 53.0%
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.
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This probably says more about the choice-of-major people are making
and less about the quality of education, but I found it interesting.
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Whenever I hear a Lib talk about “social skills” and how important they are for kids, I just substitute “brain washing”. Funny how they don’t see a correlation between the extra time that government run schools have our kids now compared to 40 years ago, with a drop in SAT and other standardized test scores, the rise of trannies, furries and other assorted freaks and geeks and most notably the rise in the number of school shootings. I can’t remember any school shootings occuring during my school years, if they happened, there must have been very damn few of them.
By all means, let’s focus on “socialization” . Let’s teach them the proper way to wear their Antifa mask, make a molotov cocktail, protest against things they are too stupid to even define, and assault and hinder Law enforcement officers to the point they get their dumb asses shot to death!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
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Vouchers give the parents and their children the ability for other choices in education. If the public schools are doing a good job most parents will choose to stay as even with a voucher the private schools will come at additional costs.
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In 2024-25
2.5 million kids used some form of vouchers/open enrollment/shcool choice
to attend a different school than the one to which they were originally assigned.
– 1.8 million attended another public school (better district, better elementary in the same district, magnet school, charter school etc.
– Only 700k used them to attend private schools schools etc.
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Teachers are not threatened by vouchers.
Liberals are afraid what might happen if they lose command and control monopoly micromanaging who attends what school.
Liberals should trust the teaches and stop being afraid We have school choice at the university level and they are still (mostly) liberal cess pits.
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Did you read the article? The public schools are doing great in those states. And yet the leaders are pushing for vouchers, essentially ignoring the good work being done.
Vouchers also de-fund the regular public school system.
Only? That’s nearly a third.
Advanced education, where the schools pick the students, is in no way comparable to the challenge that vouchers face to schools that are mandated to teach all.
Again, the core issue with vouchers is, the kids who are teh cheapest to educate are the ones that leave the system, and their student fund goes with them. The kids who are left behind are the expensive kids to teach , the ones who cose more than the per student avergare price that leaves with the kids who are cheap to teach.
I agree. What the hell is wrong with them???
You mean the bsest and most capable students are leaving?
Are they moving to someplace that leaves them worse off?
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We should outlaw Harvard, MIT etc.
Only the best and most capable go there.
We should FORCE them to attend the local community college.
How DARE THEY deprive the local community college of funds!
Their personal education does not matter.
Their goals are the most important. The only important thing is to make sure the local community college gets money.
The purpose of education is to make sure the community college gets money, period.
Students with advanced potential can go such an egg
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I am not sure that he is right but most vouchers are not merit based
No, of course not.
I’m not faulting them, BTW. I’m just pointing out the obvious challenges pose to public school systems by voucher programs.
If Harvard had to educate every single student who lived in Boston for the smae per student taxpayer provided fee, you would have a point. Given that they choose their students and set their rates, you don’t.
They aren’t, but de facto, they actually are.
The kids who use vouchers typically have engaged parents, active in their kids education. That, and the fact that the schools they sometimes go to - private schools, some (not all) charters) - have selective enrollment, leads to the brightest, cheapest to educate kids using the programs.
that’s not what cheapest means. That’s some kind of prejudicial thinking you got there.
better performing students are cheaper to educate.
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Which student costs more for a public school to educate?
A student who tests well.
an autistic non verbal student who requires EPs and specialized equipment and programming?
These students took government money and made a choice and did not attend a publicly-owned community college or a publicly-owned state unviersity.
They went to Harvard
Perhaps they should have been assigned a school based on where they live, or given a choice, but only if they stay within the government-owned monopoly?
Obviously not.
Students and families using money to attend the school they choose, even selective private schools like Harvard,
- does not hurt the government schools, and
- does not hurt the students they leave behind.
Even if Mississippi community colleges and Mississippi state schoolsare improving, Mississippi students should be allowed to use student aid to attend any school they choose.
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