Vouchers in the School System
In 1642, a law was passed in Massachusetts that required parents to provide their children with an education. It was believed that Satan would more easily corrupt those who could not read the bible than those who could (Cooper 298). For the most part, parents had to pay out of pocket for an educator to see to their child. In the event that the parent could not pay, the responsibility would fall onto the shoulders of the government. As time progressed, religion was eventually pushed from the education system, as parents of a religion other than that taught in the schools became more hesitant to send their child away. Private tutors remained, however, for those who still wanted their children to be taught their subjects through religion.
Today, religion is completely removed from the public education system, remaining only in the private schools that are scattered across our nation. As the gap widened, from private tutor and the Common School to public school and private school, so did the cultures involved. Private schools tend to be safer and the student body more motivated. The public school parents want to have the option to switch to what they perceive as a better school if things do not go well with their current one. In answer to this want, they turn to the concept of vouchers, which should be allowed in the school system, but with restrictions as to what they can be used for.
Many people reject the idea of vouchers, declaring that they go against the first amendment of our constitution, that is, separation of church and state. As the state funds the vouchers and the vouchers are used to pay for private schools that could be religious, the state ceases to be separated from the church, thus violating the constitution.
Others reject the idea of vouchers because of the effects they will have on the culture of the private schools. Private schools consist of students who come from families that make it clear that their (the student’s) education is not optional. The parents who are willing to pay out of pocket for their child’s education are the same parents who are involved their child’s education. They care enough to pay for their child to be in a specific school, despite the expensive cost. There are parents who care in the public school system, but it is far rarer to find a parent who does not care in the private school system. Parents are worried that the vouchers will open the door to those who are of a different culture. They worry their chosen schools will cease to be the safe haven they selected, and their purpose for choosing them will vanish.
Most private schools provide the same level and quality of education presented in the public schools. Some Private schools may even do a worse job, particularly in the area of mathematics (Boston 34). For those schools that provide the same level of education and still get higher test scores, the only difference is the culture.
Vouchers open the door to many opportunities for students. In short, vouchers “make some families eligible to receive tuition coupons for attending a private school” (McEwan 59). Schools that were once barred to them due to their financial income are suddenly available. This is great for those wanting in, but for those already in, this could disintegrate that program which they had chosen. Because of this, vouchers should only cover a portion of the cost. In this way the original culture is preserved, as parents still need to cover a majority of the costs. At the same time, however, the door is opened to those families who could not afford it otherwise. If a middle-class parent did not care for the education of his or her child, it is unlikely that parent would set aside money to pay for it when it could be free, especially when that parent takes into account the fact that the education offered in private schools is often no better than that offered in the public schools.
The first amendment of our constitution declares the separation of church and state, and this amendment should be upheld. To suggest that an exception be made for so trivial a matter as some parents in want of a private school is outrageous. If ever vouchers were to be allowed in the school system, they should not be used for any religious material. Because of our first amendment, the government should not pay funds for religious material in the education system. As such, if a parent wished for their child to receive an education at a religious private school, the voucher could only pay for that material that is not religious. For example, if Algebra II is the only class in which no religious material is being taught, then Algebra II is the only class the voucher could be applied to. All other classes are represented by the church, and so can not mix with funding from the state.
Yet another issue that comes up regarding the vouchers is the age. In Washington State, the state will pay for a public education up through age twenty-one. Once the student reaches age twenty-two, the state ceases to pay for education. Because of this law, vouchers in Washington State should only be used to pay for the education of an individual under the age of twenty-two. If the state is helping to fund, then their funding can only go so far as the laws of the state allows.
Public schools are funded by the state because they adhere to the state’s laws. Anything the school does outside of the state laws can not be funded (for example, a summer program that allows the student to continue their studies over the summer without waiting for fall to come again to begin the next year). The state only funds that which it can legally fund, which is that which coheres to its laws. If vouchers should ever be allowed, then they should be treated as if they were funds to a public school; that is, they can only pay for what they would have paid for at a public school, no more. The state can only pay for that which follows state law.
Private schools may or may not be more favorable than their public partners, but if nothing else, opening the door to vouchers will also open the door to competition (Policy Debate) If public schools know that their students have the ability to switch to a private school, it is likely they will go the extra mile to improve the learning experience offered to the students in order to retain them. However, if there are no limits put into place as to how much a voucher can do, who is to say the situation will remain favorable? No matter what, vouchers should not fund education involving the use of religious materials; that would be unconstitutional, and would likely lead to an uproar the moment they were. Vouchers can be a good thing for the public and for the education system in general, as they add to the competition, but only if guidelines are set to moderate them.
Works Cited
Cooper, James M., and Ryan, Kevin. Those Who Can, Teach. USA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007
Boston, Rob. “Religious School Vouchers: An Obstacle to Education Reform.” The Humanist May-June 2008: 34-35
McEwan, Patrick. “The Potential Impact of Vouchers.” Peabody Journal of Education. 70.3 (2004): 57-80
“Policy Debate: Do School Vouchers Improve the Quality of Education?” South-Western. 2002. 25 Oct. 2008 <http://www.swcollege.com/bef/policy_debates/vouchers.html>
