> Detractors argue they drain finance from public schools and “privatise” education. Why do detractors say this is a bad thing? If a private school is doing s

> Detractors argue they drain finance from public schools and “privatise” education. Why do detractors say this is a bad thing? If a private school is doing such a good job that, given the choice, parents are willing to send their kids there rather than public school, how is it a bad outcome if people can send their kids there, at no cost to taxpayers above and beyond what public schooling would cost? > Another concern is that vouchers can be used at religious schools and therefore erode the barrier between church and state. This is sort of like saying that tax exemptions for religious nonprofit organizations erode the barrier between church and state. They would -- if those exemptions were provided exclusively to religious institutions the state wished to promote. But in fact, the nonprofit tax exemptions apply to organizations of any religion or no religion at all. Since the IRS treats every organization on an equal basis, regardless of religious footing, they definitely are in the spirit of "separation of church and state." Likewise, the education vouchers presumably are usable at schools of any religion or no religion. Since the vouchers treat every organization on an equal basis, regardless of religious footing, they definitely are in the spirit of "separation of church and state."