Why are vouchers such a scam?

[QED]

Here is a piece explaining why vouchers only benefit the wealthy.

Montini: 'So, moron, why shouldn't I get a school voucher?' OK, I'll tell you

"...really good private schools are expensive. For example, Gov. Ducey sent his boys to Brophy College Preparatory. If Lesko’s bill passes any parent can get $5,000 in taxpayer money to send a kid there. Except Brophy (like most really good private schools) will set you back $15,000 a year or more. So unless you can afford the extra 10 grand per year, the voucher is worthless.

However, if you are already wealthy enough to afford such a school, the state will give you $5,000 that you don’t need.

That’s not choice. It’s a scam.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2017/02/10/montini-vouchers-arizona-legislature-empowerment-scholarship-accounts-debbie-lesko/97746516/

cross posted in Arizona

[Raster]

1. Vouchers are nothing but a way to DECREASE funding to public schools.

I AM A GAY MAN. I have no children, and I GLADLY pay taxes that support public education for all. Strong public education benefits EVERYONE. Private, segregated education benefits only a few.

I do NOT want my tax money going to subsidize anyone's private school education.

[QED]

3. I agree

I don't want to pay for someone's religious education or subsidize a wealthy person's kid.

[Raster]

7. Absolutely! I could not have said it better.

[forgotmylogin]

8. Vouchers are coupons for rich people.

[Raster]

9. at the expense of everyone else

[HoneyBadger]

10. It is far more interesting, and you might enjoy digging in

Here are websites that shows how much each school receives per student.

It is a cafeteria plan, with a lot of options, particularly where special Ed is concerned, but to simplify, 10 students covers each teacher's salary.

So if you wonder why your public school has 28 kids in a class (my school last year) vs a vastly better 18 (this year) .......

A public school gets about $20k per student. If a local government can get rid of that $20k and replace it with a $5k voucher, given that some people prefer it, guess what they are going to do?

http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/funding/FSFDetail/default.htm

http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/06/M311/AboutUs/Statistics/expenditures.htm

[QED]

12. Arizona is less than half that

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2017, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)

I think it's around $7000. AZ teachers' salaries are the lowest in the nation. I looked around - my salary in KY of all places would be $20k more. It's tempting.

[HoneyBadger]

13. I believe that NYC has the biggest school system in the US

I know of 2 teachers and 1 principal that left the NYC for California in the last year. Pretty sure for similar if not better $.

[HoneyBadger]

11. This is a pretty well known local parent that is conspicuously involved with his kid's schools

He sends one kid to public and one to private, he held a fundraiser a month ago to raise 50k for the PTA at the public, where he complained about how the private school is always hitting him up for more money, obviously he can afford to do whatever he wants.

My point is that rich people can be generous, and often have different ideas about what works for each kid. He famously is against Common Core, like the local teacher's union, like the Tea Party. But he is hardcore anti Trump. So implying that rich people are single minded in terms of schools is not accurate.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/louis-c-k-against-the-common-core

[Boxerfan]

2. Forgotthe Sarc...

I hate these jeez why not see the Repuke point of view-it is sooo reasonable as in always...

If this is not a troll post-wtf??OOOPss-Sarcasm. Gotta read more than the headline I guess.

[QED]

4. LOL

AZ wants to give the store away. It already has an acute teacher shortage because of the low salaries. The governor is trying to out Kansas Kansas.

[Squinch]

5. Kick!

[HoneyBadger]

6. Let's say your name is Rich and you make millions

And your 2-3 kids have never been near a public school.

Let's say your name is Famous and you make millions, and have 2-3 kids in public school.

Let's say your name is Religious, you work a city job, and have 2-3 kids in Catholic school.

Let's say that you name is MinimumWage and you make very little, and have 2-3 kids in public school.

These are very different scenarios. I know people is all 4 situations. Vouchers help some and hurt others by taking money out of the public school system and putting it into Catholic or private.

[Starry Messenger]

14. k&r

[IndyJones]

15. Our local schools are poor performing.

Our family has to give up a lot to pay $15K per year tuition. We are by no stretch of the imagination wealthy. I hope that I can get a voucher for $5K. That will be huge for our family. That is really ridiculous to say that only wealthy families pay for private school. A lot of us do it by borrowing and working more than one job. If you have great public schools near you, then you're lucky. We don't. And my husband has been out of work for seven months and counting. I really, really hope we can use vouchers next year.