4 ms·

The courts? Have a judge pick the textbook? I can't think of anything that could possibly go wrong. School choice is the solution. Let parents hold the school

The courts? Have a judge pick the textbook? I can't think of anything that could possibly go wrong. School choice is the solution. Let parents hold the schools accountable, because they're the only ones (apparently) who put the kids' education ahead of political pet causes.

pavel_lishin 12y ago
School choice may not be a viable option for lower income families, especially in non-urban settings.
- refurb 12y ago
  It would be under a voucher system, but the teacher's union doesn't like that idea.
  - pavel_lishin 12y ago
    It's been awhile (high school) since I've read about voucher system; how do they work nowadays? Is there a way to cover transportation cost and time?
  - opendais 12y ago
    A voucher system that properly enabled children in poor neighborhoods (by covering the related costs) would be a good idea.
  - ironchef 12y ago
    It's not just the union as charter schools are (in general) just as mixed of a bag as public schools. There was a Stanford study back in 2009 that spanned 16 states and showed around 20 percent of charters outperformed and 35 percent of charters underperformed their peer public schools. Actually this reminds me they were supposed to have another round of outcomes last year or so. I'll have to go and see again how things have changed. (Offhand, it wouldn't surprise me if it's relatively close overall).
rrss1122 12y ago
That's why lawmakers often want a voucher system, to give the lower income students the power of school choice.
- joeclark77 12y ago
  You don't have to sell me on the idea, brother, I've been supporting vouchers since I heard of them. I think you're overly optimistic that there are "lawmakers" on our side, though. Even those from the ostensibly free-market party, when they get into power, rarely support programs that would reduce their own sphere of influence. It's hard to get re-elected by saying "Look what I didn't do for you."
  - opendais 12y ago
    School choice only works if it is enough to cover all the external costs as well as all the tuition at a private school. No lawmaker and few citizens are willing to pay for that. ;)
    - glenra 12y ago
      The average private school costs quite a lot less than the average public school. You could spend about half as much per student and still get safer kids and happier parents. So what "external costs" are you thinking of? Going to a private school does involve travel, but so does going to your assigned public school. Depending on how the district lines are drawn and how centralized the district is, the trip might even be shorter.
      - opendais 12y ago
        Source? When my ex girlfriend was shopping around for a private school the private schools in the area were both: A) More expensive (by about $3-5k/year) than what the local district spends. B) Were generally further and didn't provide a bus to pick the kids/drop them off at that distance.
        12y ago

pavel_lishin 12y ago

School choice may not be a viable option for lower income families, especially in non-urban settings.

refurb 12y ago
It would be under a voucher system, but the teacher's union doesn't like that idea.
- pavel_lishin 12y ago
  It's been awhile (high school) since I've read about voucher system; how do they work nowadays? Is there a way to cover transportation cost and time?
- opendais 12y ago
  A voucher system that properly enabled children in poor neighborhoods (by covering the related costs) would be a good idea.
- ironchef 12y ago
  It's not just the union as charter schools are (in general) just as mixed of a bag as public schools. There was a Stanford study back in 2009 that spanned 16 states and showed around 20 percent of charters outperformed and 35 percent of charters underperformed their peer public schools. Actually this reminds me they were supposed to have another round of outcomes last year or so. I'll have to go and see again how things have changed. (Offhand, it wouldn't surprise me if it's relatively close overall).

rrss1122 12y ago

That's why lawmakers often want a voucher system, to give the lower income students the power of school choice.

joeclark77 12y ago
You don't have to sell me on the idea, brother, I've been supporting vouchers since I heard of them. I think you're overly optimistic that there are "lawmakers" on our side, though. Even those from the ostensibly free-market party, when they get into power, rarely support programs that would reduce their own sphere of influence. It's hard to get re-elected by saying "Look what I didn't do for you."
- opendais 12y ago
  School choice only works if it is enough to cover all the external costs as well as all the tuition at a private school. No lawmaker and few citizens are willing to pay for that. ;)
  - glenra 12y ago
    The average private school costs quite a lot less than the average public school. You could spend about half as much per student and still get safer kids and happier parents. So what "external costs" are you thinking of? Going to a private school does involve travel, but so does going to your assigned public school. Depending on how the district lines are drawn and how centralized the district is, the trip might even be shorter.
    - opendais 12y ago
      Source? When my ex girlfriend was shopping around for a private school the private schools in the area were both: A) More expensive (by about $3-5k/year) than what the local district spends. B) Were generally further and didn't provide a bus to pick the kids/drop them off at that distance.
      - 12y ago