I like your response (I liked all of them), but the reason Bush does not push hard for vouchers is that his white, surburban, well-off constituents like their schools the way they are, and don’t want to upset the apple cart. Bush went silent on the issue when his base (esp. the Christian right) turned on the issue.
As to “No Child left Behind, if that damn program is so good, why is the State of Maine, that has really good schools (ranks in the top six in the nation in math, reading, science and writing), so against it?
From PBS: <
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec03/maine_9-2.html>
"JOHN MERROW (PBS): The Department has created a rural education task force to address concerns coming from Maine and other rural states. One of the major issues is funding. Maine is eligible for about $90 million in federal funds under the "No Child Left Behind Act." But (Maine’s US) Representative Allen (D) believes that the increased testing, retraining teachers and other new requirements will cost Maine a lot more than that.
"REP. TOM ALLEN: Back home, the school districts don't have the money to fulfill all the mandates that the federal government has now imposed on them through this law.
Merrow’s closing comment: “Maine is not alone. Other rural states - Alaska, Montana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Nebraska - have expressed their concerns about No Child Left Behind. A law that seems certain to continue to have a dramatic effect on public education."
Last, there is a great article in the Washington Post from a former school principal on the “illusion” of the bill. I disagree with his end comment about vouchers at the end, but liked the rest of it. <
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37561-2003Sep19.html>