Indiana vouchers prompt thousands to change schools

[The Northerner]

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Weeks after Indiana began the nation's broadest school voucher program, thousands of students have transferred from public to private schools, causing a spike in enrollment at some Catholic institutions that were only recently on the brink of closing for lack of pupils.

It's a scenario public school advocates have long feared: Students fleeing local districts in large numbers, taking with them vital tax dollars that often end up at parochial schools. Opponents say the practice violates the separation of church and state.

In at least one district, public school principals have been pleading with parents not to move their children.

"The bottom line from our perspective is, when you cut through all the chaff, nobody can deny that public money is going to be taken from public schools, and they're going to end up in private, mostly religious schools," said Nate Schnellenberger, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Under a law signed in May by Gov. Mitch Daniels, more than 3,200 Indiana students are receiving vouchers to attend private schools. That number is expected to climb significantly in the next two years as awareness of the program increases and limits on the number of applicants are lifted

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hQ00Kj-LnspAverrq9ayrxDinOPw

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Aren't government vouchers provided for religious education parochiaid

and are unconstitutional?

[FBaggins]

2. Not if the parents control which school the child attends.

At least... so says the court system. At least on a federal level.

Each program goes through a court battle as it is created and implemented. This one just began (with a county judge denying a preliminary injunction requested by the teachers' association just a couple weeks ago. Each state also has its own constitution, so prior decisions may not be compelling. This first judge, however, seems to think that the case has little chance of success (and other states with similar constitutional language have cleared similar programs).

[frazzled]

3. Ugh

You want education policy that truly destroys our public schools? Look to Republicans and their vouchers to private/parochial schools.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Vouchers are a scam -- an easy reward to The Base.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=219&topic_id=33857&mesg_id=33861

[L. Coyote]

5. Constitutional end run to give public money to religion??

[FBaggins]

12. Nah... their goal is to circumvent the public schools and teachers/unions

The fact that the money goes to religious institutions is just frosting on the cake.

[Bandit]

6. Should be no problem teaching the kids Creationism then...

We am one reel smart cuntry...

[rosato29]

My kids go to an Indiana Catholic school -

they teach evolution.

[Javaman]

15. Those aren't public schools. nt

[Yavin4]

7. A Good Number of the Kids Will Probably Get Kicked Out of Those Catholic Schools

The reason why Catholic and other private schools out-perform public schools is that they can kick out students who cause trouble and/or under perform.

[FBaggins]

13. Not until the economy starts to recover.

Many of those schools don't have enough students to continue operating without large infusions of cash from their parent orgs (e.g., the diocese). They'll hold on to anyone who continue to pay unless the student becomes disruptive.

So "cause trouble" yes.. "under perform" no.

[Starry Messenger]

8. And when the private schools have the enlarged classrooms

that we struggle with in the public schools, the quality of education will probably take a drastic hit. I wonder how the non-union private school teachers will react to the new development.

[SavWriter]

9. Fundie Nazi's

[Gin]

10. tax the churches affiliated with the schools....why should voters

pay and the organizations getting the revenue not be taxed?

[femrap]

11. How do tax dollars

end up going to Catholics???? Where's the ACLU? I don't get it.

[FBaggins]

14. Simple. They don't.

They go to parents and the parents decide what schools gets what is now their money.

At least... that's what the courts usually rule.

[hfojvt]

16. oh come on - 3,200? What is that as a percentage?

2%? 1%?

One "problem" is that the public schools already have declining enrollment just because of demographics, and most states already seem to be cutting budgets too. At least in Kansas and Missouri this will be the 2nd or 3rd year of budget cuts for the schools.