Comments on: Protesters Demand School Voucher Lawsuit Be Dropped

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 00:31:08 +0000

“The power to tax is the power to destroy,” John Marshall for the unanimous Supreme Court, McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819.
The Florida legislature has the power to tax.

Whether they tax wisely or foolishly is often up to debate. Their power to tax can be used not just to raise funds for public purposes, but to force people to do things they might not do otherwise or to not do things they WOULD do otherwise (like not buying a $20 pack of cigarettes when they WOULD have bought a $1 pack.)

In this case, they are using the power to tax the same way Congress used it to legalize The Affordable Care Act, by not taxing those who obey/comply.

The question should be if the public school students are getting a quality education.
Don’t say, “I could educate them if….”
That means they are not.
(I think they are, but could be wrong.)
Their tests indicate some aren’t, but Florida keeps moving the goal posts, so who knows?
Also remember, sometimes the teacher teaches but some students can not learn or will not learn, nor can they teach children who aren’t there.

Use existing nationally trusted standardized tests to see if they are being educated, not tests you change every so often because you don‘t even know what “quality education“ means.

Test the voucher students too as part of the voucher.
If they are, rejoice.
If they are not, require the money be refunded to the state.

Anything beyond that is simply wanting the money to go elsewhere,
in this case to the members of my union,
rather than caring about the children.

David for better education

By: old school days

old school days — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 00:33:27 +0000

My wife and I had to work so we Gould put food on the table, We have four kids and they had to go to public school and all four finish. with out help. so watts wrong with public schools just because its a F rated school. dose not mean they get free school. If so All kids should get it to. So closed down all public school and give then vouchers

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:23:04 +0000

You can reason it out all you want, & say public school is no longer good enough, but the fact remains that the majority will go to public school. Your fears of leftism make it sound like you think your kids will be brainwashed, which is nonsense.

The people with money can pay to have their kids in private school, the rest of us go to public school, which is good enough, case closed. Anything else is SOCIALISM!

I know this a hard pill for you wishful thinkers, but it is what it is. Let’s face it, there is a small percentage of kids that will benefit from private school, & a big majority that it would sail right by the heads of.

By: Elijah Bell

Elijah Bell — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 01:12:45 +0000

The third paragraph states that the program provides tax credits to companies that donate money to nonprofit entities that help pay for low income families to send their children to private schools. Sounds great to the untrained ear. First this program does take funds away from the general education fund because of the tax credits and that is not good for public education. Low income families whose children attend public school deserve as good an education as well off students who attend public schools. Picking winners or hopefully winners from a small percent of low income families to attend a private school on the publics dime in itself is awful. I have nothing against private schools and there are plenty that are outstanding and above reproach. What I have a problem with is my tax money that is taken without my consent and enforced with the power of the law being spent on private school education that I have no say so in. Private schools can teach anything they wish in any way they wish to teach it. My hands are tied and I have no voice or vote as to what the private schools use MY money. That is my beef with the voucher plan. What should be done in Florida is for the amount of funds spent on education equal the amount needed to bring the quality up to the highest standers in the country. Also local control should be of highest importance and the legislature should be as far away from making mandates on teachers and students as humanly possible. What students learn should come from parents, teachers, and local school boards.

By: No Excuses

No Excuses — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:09:04 +0000

As a public servant of some type or the other, mostly as a teacher, for the past 33 years, I can say that I see value in the public schools and I also see value in the voucher program. Educational reform is under way as we speak, and I foresee that common core may be adjusted if not altogether removed. It’s even used to instruct GED students, and I jokingly say that we now have 8 steps instead of four to solve the problem, although that is not always the case. Sometimes the cc way makes more sense than the old way. Voucher systems were originally put in place to allow minorities and lower income families to send their children to private schools if they so desired AND they qualified for the program. I see nothing wrong with that as this is something they were denied before due to cost. I am relatively conservative, but I see the value in allowing ALL to benefit from the American system of education – be it home schooled, publicly schooled or privately schooled. My children and step children were both publicly educated and home schooled and all four of them are either in college or working a fulltime job. It can and does work with the proper motivation. All parents who care about their children want the best for them – the voucher system allows that, to an extent. I think we should keep it, even if the ways and means are modified.

By: Simmer Down

Simmer Down — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:04:12 +0000

@John: Sir, can you please provide evidence for the claims you make? Are you saying Common Core is socialist, or public schools are socialist? Where does Common Core say that 4 X 3 = 11 is okay? Or is this just something you’ve heard? And you could put 6 gallons of gas in a 5 gallon container, if the gas you’re talking about is first compressed. Finally, any evidence you have that God has turned his back on America would be appreciated. Does this mean that all these good people who pray for every accident victim are wasting their time? Evidence and reason > rhetoric.

By: willhomeschool

willhomeschool — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:01:57 +0000

Public schools are not what they once were, Mike. Chances are it is very different from when you and I went to school. Research common core and ask questions to school admins if they are implementing it in our area. I have respect for Mr. Malcolm Thomas, and I believe he’s a good man, but even he can’t stop the flood of leftism that is so pervasive in our school system. My kids will be home schooled. I had wanted to have them attend Jim Allen; they would be the fourth generation to do so in my family. But sadly, I can’t trust the system with my kid’s education anymore. My wife and I have made the financial sacrifices for her to be able to stay home with the children and make this happen. Your children are your greatest investment, and we have determined to live that out. If more folks would do the same, we might see some positive changes in our land.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:22:26 +0000

Public school was good enough for the rest of us, why should any one group get special treatment? Shut it down.

By: john

john — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:40:16 +0000

It’s sad that children are caught in the middle of this. First, I can’t blame any parent for pulling their child out of the socialist progressive common core public school system, for crying out loud they believe 4X3=11 if you give a good reason for it, or you can put 6 gallons of gas in a 5 gallon can if you have a reason to let it flow on the ground, this is where America is at people! but the ultimate problem is the Department of Education. And second I would be careful invoking the name of God, because he has already turned his back on America and I personally believe he has already (invoked) his rigbteous judgement process.