Another benefit of improving unruly public students Those who oppose Louisiana's efforts to make public school students more mannerly play into the hands of the proponents of school vouchers. One of the arguments made by people who support using taxpayer dollars to finance private school education for some students is that public schools are unruly. Requiring students in public schools to treat their teachers with respect will help counter the school voucher movement. Rather than pass the buck, Louisiana's legislators enacted a law they hope will help make the state's public schools better. Of course, but this little step is an important one.
Public education is the spine of a democracy.
The challenge is to make it work. In a small way, Louisiana's new law seeks to do just that. Of course, there is the possibility that this attempt to use the force of law to make young schoolchildren respectful of school officials might fail. The bad things that many kids learn before they enter school might be too deeply ingrained for Louisiana's law to succeed in making them more civil. Please include address and daytime phone numbers so letters may be verified.