This morning’s paper first article was on Senate Bill #1 being considered now in Harrisburg. It would give low income families in failing districts (initially) and in all districts (soon after) a voucher to pay tuition at another school (private or public). This was greeted by cheers and jeers in different corners of education. I think that there is a chance (with the Republicans in control of everything in Harrisburg that this could pass). If it did, 70% of the students in the McCaskey district would be eligible for vouchers. Some districts—it seems to me—would simply collapse. In the long run this sort of reform would be good for public school. Here are few observations:

First, I am deeply conflicted concerning vouchers. I think that if I were trapped in a failing district and had no money for a private education, I would leap for joy if this passed. I would want to get my child out. The poor in these districts are basically tax slaves. Their children, having no other option, are made to attend schools that no one in their right mind would pay for so that the teachers and administrators of those districts can have salaries and pensions. This must end. It does not serve the poor children who are often trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.

So, you might say, where is the conflict? Vouchers help to save poor children and introduce needed competition to education. What could be wrong with that? Nothing, except what happens next! When private schools start taking voucher money, they will (immediately) become addicted to it. Their budgets (which because they operate in the real world where tax money is not given to them) are tight now. This money will fill their coffers, but it will mean that when the first string is attached to the money—pick a nice string like mandatory unbiblical sex education, or another one like a requirement that no teaching be done that disparages any sort of “lifestyle choices.” What will the schools do? They will either fold economically, or they will fold philosophically. So, I have a deep concern that vouchers are actually will be used eventually as a means of turning today’s independent private schools into quasi-public schools. In the paper, people on the public side of things are already beating this drum. They are claiming that vouchers should require “a level playing field”—i.e., that voucher receiving schools should have to meet all state rules and regs. Eventually, this would mean the corruption and destruction of the private schools. Actually, schools in the Association of Classical and Christian Schools have been waiting on this Trojan Horse for a while. Here are a few articles:

See Classis Volume V, No. 6 from 1998 (yes, 1998). This article is by Nathan Wilson, Doug’s son, who is the N.D. Wilson of popular children’s books.

ACCS also has a position paper on vouchers.

So, vouchers could help poor folks and destroy public and later private education. Thus, the conflict!

article in today’s paper