<p>Garland, I’m sorry to hear you use the term “arguing.” I thought this was a discussion, not an argument. </p>
<p>Lovejoy, no, I am not a huge Bush fan on many issues. But then I am also not a huge fan of the “other side” on many issues either. I believe that nothing is set in stone, however, so I like to try to sort various issues out for myself with research, thought, and open-minded discussion. Ultimately makes for a very strange mix of political beliefs on my part. :)</p>
<p>Emerald, you have touched on another of my fears about educational vouchers - once we start moving money out of the public educational system, control of its use is lost. I also believe that many private schools will just continue to serve their traditional populations, not necessarily open their doors willingly to serve the students who really do need and want other options. Most private schools are set-up to serve students without learning difficulties, taking in students who need remedial help because the public school system has failed them will not be an attractive enticement to them. </p>
<p>I have mixed feelings about the concept of “choice” within the public school system, where if a school is below a certain point in test performance, parents have the option of moving their child to another, better performing public school. On the one hand, for individual children, that’s obviously a good thing. But, on the other hand, it abandons the poorly performing school - and whatever children are not able to move (i.e. after school childcare reasons, transportation reasons, etc.) - by taking money away from the school. </p>
<p>I have been closely following and have been impressed with a pilot program that is underway here in San Diego at UCSD. It’s a public charter school on the UCSD campus, specifically for low income students in grades 7-12. The class day is longer than in the typical school and the emphasis is on developing college prep skills, even though many enter needing remedial help. UCSD students participate as in classroom tutors. The students at the school also benefit from interaction with UCSD counselors right from the get-go who help them understand what they need to do to prepare for college, why achieving is important, what their options are if they work hard. The underlying benefit, of course, is that students are exposed on a daily basis to being on a college campus. They take part in campus cultural and research opportunities, interact with students, have professors as guest speakers, etc. The program is still young but has had an excellent track record so far - most kids graduate, go on to excellent four year schools. I think that what low income kids need is more of this type of program - not necessarily to be shuttled off to private schools where they may or may not get additional support and encouragement. Would it be so far-fetched to imagine colleges and universities across America participating in such a program, receiving some sort of state funding for the use of their facilities and participation?</p>