# Foundations and Assessment of Education/Edition 1/Foundations Table of Contents/Chapter 6/Student Soapbox

Cast your vote: Should Virginia issue vouchers so students can attend the school of their choice? If yes, should vouchers be redeemable at private schools?
Add your response below. Extra credit will be awarded to multimedia responses.

## Yes, bring vouchers to Virginia and let them be used at all schools: public and private.

I would have to agree that bringing vouchers to schools in Virginia would be a great idea. I think parents should be able to choose the school theor children attend without having to fill out out of district forms or put their children in an expensive private school. I feel private schools are expensive and in most cases children who attend private school can attend anyone their parents want if they are admitted. Most publice schools that are located in good neighborhoods are in some cases as adequate as some provate schools. I think allowing all students to use vouchers will diversify schools and create a new and exciting school for children. Lwill031 (talk) 14:55, 19 July 2009 (UTC)
I would agree that bringing vouchers to Virginia and allowing them to be used in private schools is a good idea. Many parents wish they had the resources to send their children to private school and could expose them to that type of education. I agree that this could cause overpopulation in these private schools and that in most cases the public schools are adequate (sometimes even superior to the private schools) and thus vouchers should not be needed. If parents were required to fill out extensive paperwork and possibly even meet with principals, teachers, etc. to state their argument for wanting their child in private school or any other type of school, it could help to eliminate some of the overpopulation. This would cause only the most dedicated and willing parents to be able to take advantage of the vouchers. It seems only fair that all children should have equal opportunity access to various types of educational environments and I believe that vouchers will make this possible. Khedl002 (talk) 17:52, 15 July 2009 (UTC)khedl002
I believe that Virginia should issue vouchers so students can attend the school of their choice, and I also believe that vouchers should be redeemable at private schools. I think parents should be given the right to choose the best educational environment for their children. Vouchers would give all parents, regardless of their socio-economic status, the opportunity for their child to receive a better education. Vouchers would also help to bring more diversity and equality into both public and private schools. Afett001 (talk) 19:14, 12 July 2009 (UTC)
In the perfect world every parent would be able to send their child to whatever school they wanted, public of private. I find this is the right way to go, but I am also extremely pessimistic in ever seeing it happen. It'd open competition for schools as well and force them to get their crap right– hell, even salaries for the good teachers would probably go up. Everybody wins. Except sucky schools. Hsmit022 (talk) 19:56, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I believe vouchers should be available in the state of Virginia. I think our public schools do a great job educating the youth of today, but I also believe in free choice. A family should have the choice of where to send their child. If the best option in their neighborhood is the private school, then that is where the parents should send their kids. The public schools would then have to get better in order to get their students back. An open economy is what is great about our country. If a business doesn't have a good business plan, then it will be beaten out by the company that does. We should expect the same for the schools. Having vouchers would give the school systems an incentive to fix their broken schools. Jtmitchem (talk) 18:40, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I am in favor of a voucher program. I have three children, the oldest of whom spent all but one year of school in public school. My youngest two children have always attended a private school. We, as parents, had a choice where to send them and selected what we felt was the best school with the best opportunities for them. The cost is high but we have never regretted it. They are receiving the quality of education we feel is appropriate in a setting we feel is safe. Although I plan on teaching in a public school and I attended public school and was raised by public school teaching parents, I firmly believe not all public schools are equal. I feel so very fortunate that I can afford to send my youngest elsewhere and wish the same for all parents. I think competition for vouchers between public and private schools might improve many public schools. Sciaston (talk) 19:55, 14 July 2009 (UTC)
I believe Virginia should offer vouchers to any parent seeking a public or private education for their child. I believe some parents want top-notch education for their children, and though public schools are great, the number of students per class is sometimes too high for a teacher to focus in each student's needs. I believe that parents seeking a great education should not be restricted due to financial inability. Ehern004 (talk) 21:17, 15 July 2009 (UTC)
I believe that vouchers should be offered to Virginians for both public and private schools. Parents only want the best education available to their children. Vouchers could provide educational opportunities that are not easily accessible due to SES. An anticipated outcome would be increased student achievement and an increase in school diversity. Though vouchers would be accepted at private schools, we must remember that those institutions still base acceptance on a variety of specific criteria. In order for a voucher program to be truly successful, the doors of learning must be wide open at all schools. Acrow005 (talk) 00:17, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I think that vouchers should be made available in Virginia to both public and private schools. Vouchers allow parents to have more control over the type of education their children receive regardless of economic limitations. It is up to the parents to decide if a private institution is right for their child. Regardless of the religious beliefs or special regulations private schools may impose. BitterAsianMan (talk) 12:01, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I believe that Virginia should offer vouchers for students so they can choose the school of their choice, regardless of whether the school is a private or public school. However, I do believe that there should be some requirements or regulations on using the vouchers for school choice depending on the academic abilities of the student. If the student chooses a school that he/she is not academically prepared for, then that student should be redirected to a more appropriate school choice. Vouchers should also be used so parents can have some decisions in what kind of education their children receive, regardless of their financial status. I feel that all children should have equal access to the school of their choosing regardless of their SES, so that all children can have equal access to opportunities and better education. Rburt005 (talk) 18:09, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
Yes, I agree. The main idea behind a voucher is that the school a child is zoned to attend is inadequate. Since the state is failing in their legal act to provide free education to all, it is their responsibility to remedy the issue. The child is already having to attend another school because of the short comings of the local government and their school system, so it seems logical that the child should not be any further inconvenienced and thus allowed to attend school anywhere they choose. Scrai010 (talk) 17:38, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
Maybe if more school vouchers were available, more parents would be involved in their child’s education. A parent would have to do some research, and I would hope more involved, because they would want to be sure they are getting the best for their choice.Mlipl001 (talk) 23:46, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
I believe that Virginia should issue vouchers for both private and public schools, because I think that it would raise the standards of both schools in the state. Parents should always have the option of deciding where they want their children to attend, whether the school is geographically or academically ideal. Specially, parents of children with special needs should have the right to choose between a public school with a general special education program, and a private school that specialized with special education. Children of poverty would also benefit from vouchers because they would be given the same education as of a child with a high SES. This could also be seen as an incentive for public and even private schools to do better because parents would be “shopping” for the right choice. I understand why some would argue against because of financial reasons and possible overcrowding. However the voucher would still be a solution because it would provide schools the funding necessary to expand their schools and better their programs. Adart001 (talk) 19:48, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
I do not believe that vouchers are a good idea. It would create too much confusion and too much unnecessary work and spending for the government. I think that students should be required to go to school based on the geographic location of their residence (like it is now). As a parent, I would not like to have to deal with school vouchers. If I think my child needed an improvement in education, I would put in more time at home. Plus what if more parents wanted a certain school and there was no room available? Mbrowder (talk) 16:52, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

## Yes, bring vouchers to Virginia but for public schools only

I think that vouchers are a great way for parents to pick and choose where their children attend school. However, I think it should only be for the public schools because of the problems that might happen due to church vs. state. Most private schools are religious. One of the arguments stemming from this is that private schools are very expensive. However, there are ways to help pay for the private schools. Some of the private schools are associated with a church. In some cases, if you are a member of the church in good standing, your children can either attend for free or at a heavily discounted rate. One other point is that if vouchers were given out for all schools, would there really be a need to call the schools private and public anymore?Scarlett1 (talk) 06:32, 14 July 2009 (UTC)
I do think that parents should have the right to choose where their child will go to school. But I also think that private education should remain privatized and separate from public education. There are so many public schools that I do not see the need to extend vouchers to private school as well. If private schools get vouchers, are they really private anymore? Alucy001 (talk) 15:29, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
Vouchers sound like a good idea to bring to Virginia, but coming from someone who went to private school, I do not think it is a good idea that private schools are included. Unless the government plans to give money to fund the private schools, where will the money come from to keep the schools running? Private schools rely on the students that go there to provide the money to keep them open and running. If Virginia let vouchers work with private schools, with students that possibly could not afford private school, how is this helping? I understand some parents would love to provide the education and values a private school has to offer to their children, but if they do not pay to go to the school who is going to pay for them? The government most likely would not. Is this going to raise tuition for the students of families who originally could afford private school? Because if that is the case then these students will not be able to continue attending school due to the large tuition, causing these schools to close anyway. Hcogg001 (talk) 16:56, 19 July 2009 (UTC)
I have to agree with that point. Vouchers are a great idea but the fact is if they were extended to include private schools they would no longer be private. There are many schools that would not want to be allowed to take vouchers, I am not agreeing with their practices but the reality is that some private schools have a strict clientele that they are attracting and some students would not fit in well in those schools. I went to private school until middle school and begged my parents to let me go to public school. It was not that I did not receive a great education, I definitely did. The issue that I have is that most private schools cater to people that can afford that schooling and some of the students that go to that school have the access to the finer things that can be bought. I am by no means saying that every student is a snob or a brat; but in my experience, the reality of real world issues, like not having a closet full of clothes, or not being able to go to a birthday party and afford a gift, or even not living in a great neighborhood are realities that most private school students do not have to face. With that being said it can shield those students from really learning about real world issues that are learned every day in public schools. vouchers to be effective the social effects would have to be weighed as well as the educational advantages. Jnewh001 (talk) 21:48, 19 July 2009 (UTC)

## No, keep vouchers out of Virginia

I think vouchers are a bad idea. We need to overhall the entire system so all schools are equal. Vouchers are just a way to quiet the loud complainers it solves nothing.Jnemo001 (talk) 03:21, 9 August 2009 (UTC)
I don't know much about school vouchers. I have too many questions running through my mind thinking about this and I would need more information about school vouchers to really give an opinion.Msmhobbs04 (talk) 13:16, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
I think No. Why change the systems as it is now? Why not use the money to improve the public school system? I think the voucher system is more trouble than not. I don't think the economy would support such a program. I say leave it as it is and put the money in public schools for improvement. Ldomm002 (talk) 02:34, 19 July 2009 (UTC)
My vote is NO. They are not needed. Private school teachers do not even have to be certified. I don't want my children taught by someone that does not even have requirements on teaching. I believe more effort needs to be on the schools that need more funding to make them more adequate for students. This money needs to be on making all schools better not for vouchers. Aferg006 (talk) 21:26, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I would say No. There is no need for vouchers. Are the schools required to take every student who uses the voucher? I believe this would cause many problems with overpopulation and possibly private schools would hold the hand to deciding who is admitted and who is not. I think by this happening there would be more segregation is schools and really would be an unequal learning environment for possibly socio economical groups, cultures, races..etc. Sston008 (talk) 01:36, 15 July 2009 (UTC)
I do not agree with voucher use. If voucher use was aimed at private schools, some people would possibly begin to believe that these students needed more assistance than other students, which is unfair. I went to a private school for all of my school career. It was very expensive. Once I was in high school, the school began to offer some tuition assistance to some select students from lower socioeconomic groups. Not only were these students offered assistance in paying for their education, but they were often given extra assistance in class and easier assignments. This was unfair to all the other students. Sbutl016 (talk) 17:40, 16 July 2009 (UTC)
I am a definite NO for vouchers. They do open the doors for having schools managed more like businesses, which I hope to see some other way in the future. However, vouchers cost money. More government money. We have to get away from this ridiculous government spending. We rely excessively on the government to solve our problems. Most people would agree, but then will argue for vouchers in Virginia. Does not make any sense. Where do they think that money will come from? Their tax dollars! If we continue this reckless spending, we may as well hand over our paychecks to the government. I am all for equal opportunity. I am all for low-income children having the same resources as their counterparts in wealthier neighborhoods. Why not just fund the schools and create more accountability there? Why not create better standards for lower-income schools? Why are we still searching for more government free rides? What happened to hard work? Abitt002 (talk) 00:39, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I don't agree with vouchers. They are unneeded not only in VA, but across the country also. Our nation is so far in debt right now we may never see the light of day. Our economy is already suffering and this would just pour salt into the gaping wound. I also believe that parents would keep moving their children from school to school? Are their restrictions that would enable them from doing this or not? If so, it could cause mass destruction. It would affect the child educationally and mentally. Private schools are ok but their teachers do not have to be certified. Why would this be beneficial to the education of our children?Hcomb003 (talk) 00:51, 17 July 2009 (UTC)
I don't agree with the thought of a voucher just to allow students to attend the school of their choice. I think that parents should have the right to choose what school their children should attend no matter private, public or where it is. I don't think that it is fair for students to be restricted to attend the school of there community or to go to a school that their parents do not like or disapprove of because it is just not productive or instructional. I think that there should not be vouchers at all. Public education should be free always. If a parent want's there child to have a better education and this being a private school, the parent should find a way to make this happen. Parents that have the money to place there children in private schools is because they have the funds. I do think that the government instead of making individual vouchers, should use the money to better the schools and make them offer an equal the level of education.Bpenn005 (talk) 18:21, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
I do not by any means agree with a voucher program. I recognize everyone has the right to a good education, however this can be achieved without letting everyone pick their school. Schools would become way too segregated, and schools would take on different personas based on the type of students that chose to attend. This automatically places the institution in a "bracket," and limits the diversity of its body of students. Also, I think numbers in schools would vary too much. Athletic programs as well as academic programs would be negatively impacted by these numbers. For example, sports teams within a district would have the potential be unfairly paired etc. I think it would do more harm then good to allow vouchers in both public and private schools period! We'd be opening Pandora's Box if we ever chose to go this route. Rpaige (talk) 03:51, 20 July 2009 (UTC)
I think that the voucher system is a bad idea. The schools are over crowded as it is with just the students that are supposed to be in that district. OFfering them will just cause more overcrowding in the more "popular" schools. Which in the long run won't benefit anyone. Rcoll029 (talk) 03:58, 10 August 2009 (UTC)