Religiously based education has its strengths. And those who choose religious schools for their children may be tempted by the lure of state subsidies. But where state money goes, state scrutiny is sure to follow. The independence of religious schools can only be compromised by reliance on government dollars. The Supreme Court has not yet heard a case on vouchers, but past rulings have struck down any government aid that effectively furthers the religious function of parochial schools.
Vouchers also have subtle discriminatory effects.
Because the amount of each individual grant is so small, and because parochial schools are generally a good deal cheaper than other private schools, a disproportionate share of vouchers are directed towards religious schools. In some areas, up to 80 percent of voucher money would be used for schools whose central mission is religious indoctrination. It follows, then, that in some communities, children from Jewish and other minority religious backgrounds will have fewer options than others. They may find themselves with no choice but to attend either a deteriorating public school or a private school whose religious orientation differs from their own. The ill effects of voucher systems reach to the very roots of the democratic spirit.