Although needs for district funding can be compelling, discussions need to consider the important role public education plays in our society. The use and influence of corporate money compromises the unique democratic nature of public education. In addition, privatization is often far from a cure or a more efficient alternative. Support personnel play a special and unique role in the school environment. As such, they should be respected members of the school community, not a means through which corporations can profit from our education tax dollars.
Privatization means a loss of local control.
Outside money dictates curriculum, determines which employees get hired and what they get paid, and decides what students eat and drink. School districts are handing over democratic, local control to outside interests. Privatization can hurt community members by taking dollars away from the local community and sending profits to corporations located elsewhere. Many governmental programs are better than private ones. In health care, for instance, Medicare has lower overhead costs than private HMOs, and delivers more health care to an individual for a given dollar, because HMOs need to extract profit from each dollar spent.