Lots of bad solutions ...
The condition of our public school systems is tragic.
I don't
need
to go through a litany of problems here. Anyone with children
in
public school, and everyone who reads the news knows what the situation
is.
More government
regulation is not
the
answer. The No Child Left Behind act has been at
best
ineffective. I believe that it has been, in fact,
counter-
Standardized testing
isn't the answer.
I am opposed to standardized testing. First, the
tests
are developed by and for government education
departments. Necessarily,
students are taught what it takes to pass the test. What it takes
to
pass the test is the government-
Another problem with standardized testing is that it acts against
diversity. Differences in educational background produce
differences
in ideas, problem solving, and approaches to life. Standardized tests
mean
more
standardized educational background and less of that diversity.
One Good Solution ...
Imagine that it's time to buy a car. You have only
one choice
of
manufacturer, model, accessories, engine, and color
– because
there is
only one choice, for everyone. There is no
competition. The
quality is shoddy and the car costs more than it should because the
manufacturing processes are inefficient and the manufacturer is
top-
You wouldn't want to buy a car under those circumstances. Why
would you want to school your children under similar circumstances?
Now imagine that you can choose the schools that will give your
children the most
appropriate education, based on your judgment and their
abilities. Rather like buying a car, you can choose the
teachers,
programs, curricula, and facilities that fit your preferences along
with the specific needs of your children. Too good to be true?
You can have your choice of schools
Suppose that the money you and your neighbors pay in school
taxes
comes back to you in the form of a credit for your children to attend a
school of your choice. You choose the school. It
might
be your neighborhood public school, if it's a good one and you like
it. If you want more options, take the credit to a different
school – public, private, or charter.
The value of the credit will be sufficient to cover tuition and most
fees at most schools in your area. If you choose to send your
children to the most exclusive and expensive schools you might need to
put up some of your own money in addition to the credit.
As more parents make choices, more choices will become
available.
Think about the choices you have when you buy a car. New
schools
will open, offering new options. Existing public schools will
either improve their product to compete, or they will be replaced.
We in Congressional District 5 (including Scottsdale, Cave Creek,
Fountain
Hills, Tempe and Ahwatukee) are fortunate to have relatively good
public
schools. I expect that many parents
in
our communities would continue to use their credits to send their
children to the public
schools.
However,
many other communities in our state and across the county are not so
fortunate. The solution I propose will improve the quality of
education in all communities everywhere.
Libertarian philosophy ...
On the matter of funding for education I differ from the usual Libertarian position of 'no taxes'. Public funding of education is deeply imbedded in American culture, and most people equate it with public funding of other essential community services like police protection, fire protection, and maintaining the roads. Where I make a distinction is between public funding and public providing. Public providing of education has a D- average.