People around the state of Utah are going crazy over the voucher issue and I decided that I will throw in a few thoughts. The main thing that I want to point out is that both sides have lately been trying to convince people that the issue is simple. Anyone who knows anything about legislation knows that it is NEVER simple. A program that could eventually put out tens of millions in tax payer money should never be labeled as simple. I’ll just come out and say that while I think a way to put more kids into private schools that need it is in order, I really don’t think the current legislation has been thought out near well enough. Here are my points.
1. I understand that the voucher money is coming from excess money in the general fund and is not taking out money directly out of public school funds. Here is the place where voucher proponents are pushing in the media. Anyone with half a brain knows that while something might not take money DIRECTLY from something else, it can indirectly reduce funds that could be used later for something else. By agreeing to this voucher system, it is promising money that is available today, but there is no guarantee we will always have this surplus. Further, by appropriating this money now and in the future, that money has no way of ever being considered for public school money. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just something that needs to be considered. If you are going to set aside money for something that won’t be available for public schools now or in the future you better be sure it is a good program.
2. The walled Utah society (Utah county especially). No matter what proponents say, religion is a huge reason for this proposal. A large contingent of LDS in Utah disagree with public schools in very general terms because of their religious and cultural beliefs. They often then either home school or send their children to schools that focus on their religious beliefs. Their is already a largely held opinion with those that are not Mormon in Utah that our government and cities are a theocracy. There is a big opportunity for a large amount of this public money to pour directly into LDS private schools further segregating the community and adding fuel to the fire critical of the political environment here. I believe personally as a member of the LDS church, that going this route is shutting ourselves off from many of our neighbors and eliminates so many chances at being able to share the gospel with others. I have to add, that currently teachers are far too restricted about talking about religious subjects in public school, but just because this is the case does not give us the right to go exactly the opposite while using public money.
3. Vouchers are not going to automatically make your education system better. Much has been made about the amount of students in Utah that are in private schools, but that is a point that is a red herring. California has vouchers and still scores much worse than Utah students. Obviously, home environments matter far more than the schools themselves.
As an aside, I have noticed that many of the people pushing the voucher program are the same people mortally opposed to any type of entitlement program, including health care etc. While I know the arguments about the differences between them, I just don’t buy it and believe many of them are hypocrites. There are many other issues, and you can read about more here. I have to restate, that I am for more kids going into private schools. It reduces public school class sizes, and moves kids and parents not happy in one environment into another. However, I just think people are trying to oversimplify something that is very complicated. I’m not willing to sign off on something so easy to abuse like this that will cost tens of millions of dollars.
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