I used to think school vouchers were a good idea
I used to think school vouchers, if distributed based on socio-economic status, were a good idea. However, over the past year or two, I've researched the issue, thought about it in great detail, and re-thought my position based on the best facts and logic presented to me.
In the real world we call that using your brain to make an informed decision. In politics, it's what critics insist on calling a "flip-flop." If I were running a campaign for president, there would no doubt be a commerical talking about my "lack of conviction" and my wishy washy ideas -- this type of judgment forces politicians to be narrow minded and muscles them into walking the line, "staying the course" if you will. In other words, it gives us George Bush... three times.
But with vouchers back in the news, being used by the religious right to promote fairy tale education, I can no longer support the idea no matter how well intentioned the program may be.
The way I used to justify the idea of distributing vouchers to the poor was saying that "if public schools are struggling, why should the poor be stuck in them while the rich have options?" Even typing that now, I start to reconsider the thought again.
But now I've seen the danger of instilling religious beliefs in people -- we've seen first hand the results of the rising theocracy. Watching stem cell research stall under the close supervision of the religious and the rights of women being torn down a little more every day, I absolutely can not accept the idea of public money, in whatever capacity, contributing to the grooming of the next generation of theocrats.
We need to train the youth to co-exist in an intellectual capacity as secular and religious (if they must go that route) alike. Giving credence to creationism as compared to evolution in a biology class will only teach blossoming minds to indulge in logical fallacy as opposed to teaching good common sense. When they go home they can say a prayer to Jesus or the Flying Spaghetti Monster as long as they don't try to build a society based on either. But I digress.
Public money should be kept in public, secular schools to insure that young minds will not be stuck in a world of fiction presented to their underdeveloped psyche as a world of facts.
In the real world we call that using your brain to make an informed decision. In politics, it's what critics insist on calling a "flip-flop." If I were running a campaign for president, there would no doubt be a commerical talking about my "lack of conviction" and my wishy washy ideas -- this type of judgment forces politicians to be narrow minded and muscles them into walking the line, "staying the course" if you will. In other words, it gives us George Bush... three times.
But with vouchers back in the news, being used by the religious right to promote fairy tale education, I can no longer support the idea no matter how well intentioned the program may be.
The way I used to justify the idea of distributing vouchers to the poor was saying that "if public schools are struggling, why should the poor be stuck in them while the rich have options?" Even typing that now, I start to reconsider the thought again.
But now I've seen the danger of instilling religious beliefs in people -- we've seen first hand the results of the rising theocracy. Watching stem cell research stall under the close supervision of the religious and the rights of women being torn down a little more every day, I absolutely can not accept the idea of public money, in whatever capacity, contributing to the grooming of the next generation of theocrats.
We need to train the youth to co-exist in an intellectual capacity as secular and religious (if they must go that route) alike. Giving credence to creationism as compared to evolution in a biology class will only teach blossoming minds to indulge in logical fallacy as opposed to teaching good common sense. When they go home they can say a prayer to Jesus or the Flying Spaghetti Monster as long as they don't try to build a society based on either. But I digress.
Public money should be kept in public, secular schools to insure that young minds will not be stuck in a world of fiction presented to their underdeveloped psyche as a world of facts.
I have started to think the problem is less with the schools themselves and more with the community. If children are around "successful" people it will be easier for them to suceed but if they are in an enviroment where people are struggling they will expect to struggle themselves. Perhaps, it is like a self fullfilling prophecy?
Anyways I am more into internships and work study outside of the immediate neighborhoods to allow students to see how different people live , work and succeed and meet others outside of thier community who have a variety of jobs/roles. That is really where I learned the most - so maybe if that process was institutionalized it would be helpful?
Who knows, but what we have now is really working.
Posted by CindyZawadzki | 10:41 PM
I agree that public money should be kept in public schools, but the notion that religious schools somehow indoctrinate children with theocratic viewpoints is way off. I went to Catholic school for 16 years (yes, a Catholic university, too), and it certainly didn't indocrinate me with anything -- I came out an atheist.
(It's actually kind of a running joke among many Catholic-schooled people. When asked what their religion is, they often respond, "Well, I went to Catholic school, so I'm an atheist.")
Posted by JoeRo | 11:33 PM
I graduated from Catholic high school as well (only went there junior and senior year).
Most people there didn't turn out atheists. They may not be "good" Catholics, but they are the type who believes that "Jesus/God is out there"... they just don't care enough to change their life because of it.
Must be that forgiveness doctrine. To say young minds aren't impressionable though is just silly. We could pull up some stats on it and I'm sure there is a fairly high retention rate for those who go through the religious "system."
Discuss life with some Mormons and you will know what I'm talking about. They are forced to go to extra school every morning and they recite crazy beliefs as if they are pure fact... Poor kids, they don't even know what hit 'em.
Posted by Andrew Warner | 11:44 PM
I was a bit like you, Andrew, whereas I didn't have a real issue with them to start. But as my kids got older, began school themselves, I started to see the effect voucher/charter programs have on public education.
It's not pretty, and in the end, using public money to create privately owned profit centers for rich men like David Brennan can't possibly be in the public interest, let alone the interest of educating kids.
The cozy relationship of public money/private gain is more offensive when you consider strong public schools have an effect on the individual futures of the children they educate, and the on the future of the region those kids live in.
If a district produces a bunch of unskilled, poorly educated young adults, they'll find themselves with a lot of unemployed baristas.
Posted by redhorse | 8:28 AM
there are studies that I am too lazy to find right now that show that the influence of catholic schools in creating "good catholics" is slipping significantly.
the conclusions of the study showed that the kids who had active catholic parents followed the catholic teachings and those that didnt not have devout parents didnt have catholic viewpoints. The effect of attending the catholic school had very little effect on the belief systme of the kids. You either got it from your parents or not at all
Posted by Anonymous | 10:22 PM
It seems like would be a tough experiment to control a lot of the variables. It also seems that "good Catholic" parents would be a lot more likely to send their kids to Catholic schools which would logically show they both have an effect.
The more a kid hears something – like a cracker is the body of Christ – the more likely he is to consider it. If he or she hears it at home every day then yeah, he or she is likely to believe it. If he or she hears it at home and school every day, then they are more likely to believe it.
Posted by Andrew Warner | 10:53 PM
that would be a very easy experiment to control to find out if catholic schools have a big effect on religious values.
here is some data from austriala, as i said i am too lazy to find the american studies that i know exist
http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2002/aug2002p6_1086.html
fewer cathlic school children go to mass and hold catholic beliefs. The curriculum hasnt had major overhauls so the change has to be from outside the school.
It doenst matter how many times you hear something at school when compared to other influences. I see that every day with the influences on the high school students i work with at CPS. THe schools have good teachers who provide a good message but "cousins or uncles" tell the kids it is ok to F off. Way more listen to the family thenthe school
Posted by Anonymous | 10:08 PM