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Private school vouchers come with too little oversight

It has been well documented that Florida ranks among the lowest states in the country in per-pupil spending. Along with the number of unfunded mandates the Bush brothers hand out, it is no surprise public schools are struggling.

There are many issues that go into a "failing" public school. Many of them have more to do with family and home life than with education. This is something that Gov. Jeb Bush never addresses.

"Fixing" the public schools by handing out vouchers doesn't seem right. My biggest difficulty with vouchers is that they are handed out with almost no oversight. We have already witnessed fraud by several schools that pretend to set up shop and collect money for doing nothing. As far as the schools that do educate the children, why don't they have to take the FCAT? Gov. Bush was quoted as saying "if you don't test, you don't care." Does that mean he really doesn't care?

He claims to test the "bejesus" (his word) out of public school kids. Why doesn't he test the private school kids? How does he know these children are learning what he thinks they should learn? A standard response from the governor and his supporters has been that the parents of these students are pleased with what their children are learning; they can just tell it is better.

Well, on behalf of all public school parents I am completely insulted. I believe my children are learning enough. Does that mean that they don't have to take the FCAT now? You can't have it both ways. Either we all take the FCAT or no one does. Or here's a novel idea, use the FCAT, or another standardized test, as a learning tool to measure the progress of each student throughout the year and not as a tool for punishing an entire school.

Strengthen our public schools

I want to add my opposition to the school voucher plan. Our public schools have contributed to the strength of our country, to the ability of many different cultures to live in peace, most of the time. We need to increase the funding support for our public schools.

If parents desire something different for their children, they should pay for it. We should try to improve our poorest schools, not send the children elsewhere.

Also if people want to live in this country they need to learn English. That is not meant to disrespect their native language but to strengthen their ties to this country they have chosen.

The problems with private schools

Re: Young lives disrupted by politics, March 23.

I agree with George Will that many public schools do not provide the constitutional requirement of "uniform" and "high-quality" education, but neither do private schools.

Public schools subvert the "high-quality" requirement by the unions, making it difficult to fire incompetent teachers.

Private schools undermine the "uniform" requirement by:

Not being monitored as to teacher certification as is required by public schools. Thus, anybody can teach in private schools.

Not being required to check progress through standardized tests as are public schools.

And they are undermining the "high-quality" requirement by:

Not being monitored as to the content of their curriculum. Thus, they can teach anything they want to.

Often, in the case of religious schools, not seeing their main duty as education but primarily religious indoctrination.

School Board is doing its job

Re: Worrying about the wrong jobs, editorial, March 24.

Pinellas County needs to cut about $19-million from the school district's operating budget. Should the School Board accept all the superintendent's recommendations on how to do this?

It's all very clear to the Times editorialist: "The Board pays a superintendent, Clayton Wilcox, who hires people to make sure the bus seats are properly covered."

Yes, but what if some of the superintendent's recommendations are ill-considered? What if recommendations would not save money? In that case, my job is to explain my reasons to the board. If the majority agrees with me, then we follow another option. This process is called oversight. It's part of my job.

You won't find in the Times editorial that the superintendent recommended that we service only computers under warranty. Most of our computers would be left without maintenance and repair. This recommendation was not sound. I was one of the board members who convinced the others to ask the superintendent to change this. They agreed. He did.

You won't find in the Times editorial that the superintendent recommended that we abolish the vehicle body shop. This shop services 852 buses and 656 other vehicles. The superintendent did not offer any information on the cost, efficiency or availability of privatizing this function. This recommendation was not sound. I was one of the board members who convinced the others to ask the superintendent to modify this recommendation. They agreed. He did.

In my opinion the most important issue is whether to support our superintendent's recommendation to renew a $1.4-million contract with Kaplan Inc. for more student testing. For two years, Kaplan has provided a flawed system and has not fulfilled its promises. Many essential and dedicated employees could be kept in their positions if the Kaplan contract is not renewed.

I understand that editorialists are supposed to give their opinions. I only ask that they look into the facts first.

A board needs professional diversity

Re: School board room is a lot different from classroom, by Howard Troxler, March 23.

Thanks for finally saying what many of us have been thinking for a long time, Mr. Troxler. Just as one wouldn't want an undiversified stock portfolio, a community doesn't need a school board completely filled by former teachers. Is it good practice to have a one or two former teachers on the school board? Probably. Is it good practice to have all or a majority of the school board come from the same profession, even if it is teaching? No way.

Here's hoping that the next Pinellas County School Board election has plenty of nonteachers running and that they actually get elected. I know I'll be voting for the accountants and business managers.

A challenge and an opportunity

Re: Democrats are not that bad, letter, March 26.

Alvin Wolfe, chair of the Platforms and Issues Committee of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, wrote that "the Republicans have controlled both houses of the Legislature for the last eight years, doing the bidding of a governor who has turned what was a mediocre system into a teachers' nightmare."

Wasn't it the Democrats who controlled the Legislature for many, many years who left what Wolfe calls a "mediocre system"?

Instead of referring to the present system as a "teachers' nightmare," I refer to the system as a teacher's challenge and an opportunity for students.

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 01:08:15]