Let me summarize my opinion point for those who don’t want to spend much time reading someone else’s opinion: Allocating (spending) public funds for private education is the first step in destroying public education.
Generally speaking, the new school voucher program in Tennessee is the beginning of the end for public education that is free of religious indoctrination (dogma).
Having shared my premise, let me expand. Tax dollars in Tennessee are intended for the education of all children, not the private religious education of a few.
Is there anyone that dares to deny that the upcoming voucher program will funnel money away from the struggling public schools? Of course not.
The transparent (clear) purpose of this new system is to pave the way for more use of public tax dollars for private education, as if the private education system needs help.
Your writer is a product of a private (military school) education. I was extremely fortunate to attend such a school. It was certainly valuable as I continued my journey into higher education. But, what we have today are efforts to evangelize students in private schools originally designed to allow some parents to keep their children from “mixing” with “others”. You know who the “others” were and are today.
Now ‘most” private schools, not talking Baylor, McCallie or Girls’ Preparatory School, are designed to teach their students some kind of religious “thought”. Before you scream, I need to share I have continuously taught Sunday School classes for over 40 years. I believe in “religious” thought. But not on the public’s ticket.
This new legislation is only the first step to further demonize public education. Disclaimer: my spouse was a public school teacher for decades. Resources in public schools are often so pitiful that teachers have to buy their own supplies. Recently when helping distribute free books to elementary students, we also gave teachers a single ream of paper. They were simply thrilled beyond words.
A small but not minor fact is that this legislation is costing taxpayers almost $500 million. So what is happening here is that much of the money will be going into the hands of religion-based organizations who have already tapped the wealthy and would-be wealthy for everything they need to teach students.
Why do they need more?
Fred Gault
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In his letter of May 7, Fred Gault claims that vouchers will be the end of public schools. I think that is highly unlikely, but if I am wrong it means that public schools are so bad that most parents will abandon them if they have any viable alternative at all.
Mr. Gault must think public schools are far worse than I do, since he clearly believes that more competition will kill them off. It isn't exactly a vote of confidence when someone like Mr. Gault says public schools can survive only if we force children into them by denying anyone but the rich an alternative.
With friends like Mr. Gault, public schools don't need enemies.
Andy Walker, MD