Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney is proposing a voucher-style system that could fundamentally change public education in the United States.
The former Massachusetts governor was expected to outline the plan during a speech Wednesday to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
A Romney aide said the candidate wants to let low-income and disabled students use federal funding to attend public schools, public charter schools and, in some cases, private schools. Federal funds could also be applied to tutors or digital courses.
The plan is line with GOP reforms aimed at giving students more educational choices. But it’s unclear how schools in areas that depend on the federal funding would fare.
The Romney adviser says the proposal would not include any new federal money for education.
(Source: Chron.com)
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5 Responses
As long as this program doesn’t divert scarce resources from public schools and is limited to a relatively small token program that “excites” his Republican base, I have no problem with this proposal. However, yidden should not support having federal tax dollars going to religious mosdos, either X’trian, Jewish or Muslim. I don’t think we want the Feds scrutinizing school ciriculums to weed out fanatics from any group (e.g. federal funding for Islamic schools teaching anti-semitic and terrorist based versions of the Koran)
1. If it doesn’t include Federal money, where will the money come from. Spending money as if it grows on trees is a very Democratic trait.
2. Education is not listed in the powers given to the Federal government, which is why almost all schools are run by state government (and usually, in accordance with state law, by local governments). For good or ill, what is the Federal government dabbling in something that isn’t its responsibility under the constitution. He should stick to good “federalist” principles and let the states decide what is best for their own children.
3. Running as a “big government” Republican will work only if the country so made, they’ll vote anyone whose name is not Obama.
To No. 2
It would make more sense to simply leave the money in the pockets of the parents so they can make their own decisions. The federal and state constitutions guarantee all children a free public education and if parents want to suppelment that option with private school, they should pay for it but don’t tax them more so you can send the money back to them.
Again Gadolbe’einav spouts nonsense. The public school system wastes resources; if they are scarce then the best thing to do is divert them to private schools.
Akuperma, it doesn’t include any extra federal money. The money that currently goes to public schools can instead be given to parents to use at whatever school they choose. It’s true that the federal government has no business in education in the first place, but the fact is that it illegally is involved, and Romney seems to be proposing a slight improvement. מהיות טוב אל תקרא רע. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Gadolbe’einav lies. The federal constitution doesn’t even mention education, let alone “guarantee all children” a free one. Some state constitutions do this, others don’t, but all tax parents for it. That tax money should be given back to those parents who choose not to have the government schools ruin their children.