Are we backsliding?

[QRQ 30]

Perhaps this is taking place nation wide but South Carolina has implemented a program whereby parents can pick the school they send their children. The tax money will follow the children.

Am I alone in seeing this as a regression to segregation and the "separate but equal" concept? I can see it now: "Sorry we are all filled up" to black children.

My grand daughters attend an elementary school with a black principal. She is the most energetic educator I have ever seen and the school, as well as she, gets many awards. The interesting fact is that there is one additional black teacher and not a single black student.

[Sweetbriar]

Why would they especially target black children to refuse entrance? Because there is no tax paying black middle class? Because all educators and politicians hate black people? Because black parents are too stupid to figure out how to apply for school transfer in a timely manner and therefore all the white kids would fill up the school roster first? Because the black community doesn't own cars and can't figure out how to transport their kids to the preferred schools?

Well, no, of course not. I don't mean to be ugly, but could you be more specific in how this would result in racial segregation being already more than it is now? (White flight first occurred when I was bussed 30+ years ago, so it is already factored in.) Parents that care about their children's education will do what it takes. Educators and school systems need a reality check on their effectiveness, IMO.

[Peregrino]

It's about time parents have the right to punish failing schools by denying them enrollement and money. All the hand-wringing about resurgent prejudice has more to do with killing voucher programs (that minority parents had as much or more to gain from) that parents could use to hold failing schools accountable. Studies have continuously shown that students whose parents actually care about their education consistently outperform those whose parents don't care/participate. Parents willing to seek out better schools for their children in hopes of furthering their education and preparing them to succeed in life are economically punished under the current system. Personally I think every parent forced to send their children to private schools in search of a quality education should be rebated that portion of their property taxes that goes to support the public school system. The educational establishment can scream prejudice all they want, the facts are that they have adopted a standard of mediocrity with their "no child left behind" programs. Parents who want more for their children should not be forced to tolerate schools that target the lowest common denominator and deny opportunities (read a basic - let alone quality education) to average, not to mention gifted children. BTW - Study the demographics. Prejudice has nothing to do with it. When given a choice, i.e. left to their own devices, studies show that population groups tend to VOLUNTARILLY re-segregate themselves unless artificially controlled. FWIW - Peregrino

[The Reaper]

Here here!!

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

Peregrino, you have my vote.

[QRQ 30]

I don't know so don't get ugly. I'm asking.

Would competition for tax monies lead to hijacking of the better teachers? Wouldn't a solution be a higher standard for certifying all teachers, with an accompanying higher salary?

I went to parochial schools all the way through high school. At that time they were tax exempt but that has ended with a resulting decrease in parochial schools. The result of endng their tax exemption was the closing of many schools placing a heavier load upon the public school system.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Peregrino, you have my vote.

Mine also.

Moving kids every couple of years was hard enough on them but having to put up with the limited educational choices was even tougher. I am very proud of them as they all applied themselves, got scholarships to college and have gone on to bigger and better things but it was a whole lot tougher than it needed to be.

Jack Moroney

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

It's about time parents have the right to punish failing schools by denying them enrollement and money..... - Peregrino

My oldest two are in high school and at the top of their class. The BS and PC that was inflicted on them by the public school system will not be repeated on our younest.

I've voted with my feet on her. She starts school this fall, a private school. Little hard on the budget but we'll do it anyway.

Pete