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To: Lazarus_Long who wrote (16636)	7/3/2002 9:18:06 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 21057

"Funny. These guys think Edison is a private company." Of course they are a private company. Nobody has hinted otherwise. Here is more evidence: ;-) nypost.com But that is off topic. Edison Schools are funded by the Taxpayer, and they are strictly PUBLIC schools. "But if people who did not want religious education could get their dues back, secular schools would spring up." I don't think so. Secular for-profit schools cannot compete against the Catholic Church (for example) which is subsidized by the government as a Religious Institution. "Suppose it were specified that vochers could only be used in secular schools? Do you still object" This would remove my major objection--State interdependence and entanglement with Religious Institutions and their goals and motives. I think, however, that a huge number of problems still remain. Really, Lazarus...the proposed "solutions" are just shuffling pieces and game boards. What parents want is to have access to quality education delivered at a reasonable cost. Private schools benefit statistically from selective admission requirements, from parent and student motivation, from genetics, and from social standing. Social advantages tend to work in synergistic ways... Children (in theory) inherit equal rights to educational opportunities, regardless of the fortunate or unfortunate circumstances into which they are born. Those who consider and appreciate the common good know how important it is to ensure that the fundamental value of education be upheld, and that it remain unencumbered by the uncertainties involved in fallible parents of unequal means attempting to top up their "vouchers", or to make choices of equal (or unequal) merit. Children ought not to be hampered by the linmitations of their parents when it comes to educational concerns. If the public education system requires better regulation, improved standards and so forth...then for Christ's sake...make it happen. Don't fall for the back-room machinations of powerful Institutions whose only concern is to promote a personal agenda of political and social power. Religious Institutions already live free of Government taxes. Let them do their teaching in the friggin Church. This voucher system would divide America; and it would destroy the unity that has made you great and free...and that keeps you that way. Souter made some great points about the relationship of these private schools to Government, and about Government interdependence and entanglement. If you must--have communities institute standards to higher levels than "requirements". There are solutions which do not divide the country, and which do not create a horse race of Religious Institutions going after funds which serve ultimately to promote values which are antithetical to everyone outside their own compass. Education can be improved and it ought to be. But it does not need to suck the hind teat of any Church.