Voucher programs are a very bad idea

My opponent makes several very interesting arguments. His main point is that education is purely a government responsibility. I will argue that voucher programs result in the allowance of free market competition, avoiding the tax sponsored government monopoly, and thereby benefit the education of our children, especially those in failing schools. It's no secret that the government tends to run things very inefficiently. For instance, the Post Office is running a multi-billion dollar deficit, whilst Fed-Ex, a private competitor, reported hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. [1] [2] So why do I describe this example of the government's failed interference in what ought to be a private business? To illustrate a larger point. This is because the government is under no obligation to make a profit and compete with private corporations, removing the incentive to improve. Any private company run with the Post Office's monstrously inefficient policies would go bankrupt, but government never goes bankrupt. Well, at least, not yet. Education works much the same way. Funding for public schools is the highest in the world per pupil, yet America continues to lag behind in education. [3] And the problem is even worse in the inner city. Studies by the government show that each year, inner city students fall behind by 3 months compared to other schools. [4] This means by 6th grade, the student is 2 years behind. Clearly, this is a serious issue. What can be done about this problem? School choice presents the best answer to this quandary. Nobody cares about a student like his parents, and school choice puts the power into their hands. Here's how it works. The government calculates the total amount it would cost to send a student to the local public school. The government then attaches this money to the student and lets the money go to either the public school or a private alternative. This way, poor inner city families, often minorities or immigrants, have the chance to send their students to high quality private schools rather than the failing public school. [5] Now, parents could send there student to a superior private school that costs less per student than a public school. It's a win-win. For example, Catholic schools strongly out-perform public schools and cost much less. [6] It would be better both for the taxpayer, the Catholic school, and the student to attend that school with a voucher programme. So who opposes this win-win situation? The failed public schools. They claim that public schools build a shared identity and create citizens. However, they have no evidence to back that claim up. Pro claims that we gain a "unity of purpose" by attending public schools, but cites no source or evidence. Pro also claims the bill would profit ALEC members, and that it is therefore bad. However, there is no problem with earning a profit by providing a cheaper, better education to students. Profit is a good thing. It's the reward for a job well done. If public schools really are better than private schools, let them compete on an even playing field. Don't deny lower class kids the opportunity of a quality education because profit is somehow evil. A lot of private schools don't make profit anyway. Pro seems to have an ideological problem, at the expense of suffering, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, with education outside the government system. However, the last thing we want is for government to have a monopoly on education. Everyone knows monopolies are always inefficient, and the last thing anyone wants is for the government to indoctrinate our children on "unity of culture" and "citizenship." [7] I celebrate diversity and don't want everyone to fit the same predetermined mold. In conclusion, a voucher programme will cut costs and provide a higher quality education, especially to students who are currently denied access to quality schooling. It will encourage diversity and independence. The current system of Public schooling has no inherent benefit over the voucher system. If it is really superior to the private system, let them compete on an even playing field. Good luck to pro! Sources 1- http://about.usps.com... 2- http://www.usatoday.com... 3- http://www.npr.org... 4- http://www.cde.ca.gov... 5- http://www.nsl.ethz.ch... 6- http://www.brookings.edu... 7- http://www.economicsonline.co.uk...