Constitutional principles must not and need not be compromised by using taxpayer dollars to further sectarian purposes. The separation of church and state has protected religious liberty in America for more than 200 years, and we can improve public education without violating that important constitutional tenet. Programs and reforms must be subject to impartial evaluations that track their effect on all the children of a school district, not just those who are directly involved in a given reform effort. If a program is truly intended to improve education in America, we must examine how it affects every child. Our children should have the opportunity in their public schools to develop an understanding of the great diversity in this country - diversity of background and ability, as well as of race, religion and ethnicity.
Every child counts.
Any change to the system must include a commitment to all children, including those who are learning disabled, troubled, poor performers, and those without parents who can and do act as advocates for them or for their school. Vouchers Just Don't Measure Up Voucher proposals fail to measure up to these criteria. But the real test will be what happens to students left behind. Voucher plans are designed to serve those students who attend voucher schools, while ignoring the needs of those children left behind and robbing their schools of vital funding. Taxpayer money flows to schools whose physical plant, curriculum, teaching staff, student population and more are subject to private control.