I often wonder who deserves the best schools. Is it the rich families, living within private gates of their community, that should send their children to the best private schools? Sure, they can afford it and they want to do what is best for their kids. But that brings me to the child living in the slums of a city...they may attend the worst school in the area. Is it the child's fault his/her parents cannot afford a better school or a better neighborhood? Will this child end up the same...living in the slums, barely making ends meet? Wouldn't it make simple sense to allow these children to attend different schools, where they can learn, prosper, and hopefully get out of their current situation? In my simple mind, if this were to happen, all the schools would be driven, if not forced, to improve. Does our country not want every child to succeed?
School choice would stimulate change within our many failing districts, and finally allow children to reach their potential. The American Federation of Teachers strongly opposes school choice, and many other education reform tools. Unions were strong supporters of President Elect Obama, who is also against school choice. Now, they are all in a tricky spot. The Obamas' will most likely send their two girls to one of several elite private schools in DC; and why shouldn't they? They can afford it and want the best for their children.
Now, the AFT says that is okay. Anyone else find a problem a strong school choice opponent using private schools when he promotes public schools and refuses children from choosing other schools? I am in no way saying the Obamas' should choose a failing DC school; I am only suggesting if they feel the schools are not good enough for their girls, why are they good enough for any child? Why does the AFT feel it is okay for the president to not choose a public school when he feels every other child should?
CNS News reports on this in Okay for Obamas' to Send Their Kids to Private Schools, Teachers’ Union President Says
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle “have every right” to send their children to public or private school, and no one should “criticize” their decision, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), said in an interview with CNSNews.com on Monday at the National Press Club.
Showing posts with label Alliance for School Choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alliance for School Choice. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
School Choice Movement Goes National!
The School Choice movement is gaining national momentum and we all need to join in. Missouri's movement is making headways as well...thought I would share the national scope for those interested.
LetParentsChoose.org
School Choice Movement Launches Major National Campaign to Recruit 10,000 Activists“School Choice Works” campaign is the first national outreach effort for voucher and tax credit proponents.(Washington, D.C.) November 11, 2008—The national school choice movement today launched an aggressive campaign to recruit 10,000 new activists. Coordinated by the nonprofit Alliance for School Choice, the School Choice Works campaign will promote the benefits of school vouchers and tax credit scholarship programs. The effort will coincide with the start of 2009 state legislative sessions. (Visit www.LetParentsChoose.org for details.)The Alliance, which is the nation’s largest organization promoting school vouchers and tax credit scholarships, will launch a blitz of online advertising and radio promotions to spread the word about the recruitment effort. According to the Alliance, School Choice Works is the movement’s first national outreach campaign. The Alliance estimates that it will meet its goal of recruiting 10,000 new supporters by as early as January 2009.The campaign’s Web site, www.LetParentsChoose.org, encourages supporters to sign up for free information kits, subscriptions to magazines, advocacy guides, bumper stickers, and e-mail updates.“America's hardworking families should have the right to choose the schools that work best for their children," said School Choice Works Campaign Director Andrew Campanella. “Special interests have long dominated the public debate over vouchers, but our campaign will present the true life-changing stories of the families who have benefited from school choice programs. We also look forward to providing new ways for our supporters to help advance this important cause.”More than 152,000 children participate in 18 school choice programs operating in 10 states and the District of Columbia. The bipartisan base of support for school choice is growing every year, with public opinion polls showing stronger support among Democrats, African-Americans, Latinos, and Hispanics than ever before. The School Choice Works campaign will shine a spotlight on the failures of many public schools in America. Despite the best efforts of many educators, roughly 4 million children attend failing or underperforming schools. More than 1 million kids drop out of school each year. Every 26 seconds, another child drops out of school.“Despite what defenders of the status quo have told us for decades, more money alone will not solve this problem,” said Alliance President Charles R. Hokanson. “How to improve schools is not a mystery. It simply requires the will to make the necessary changes. Wherever school choice has been tried, it has worked for participating children and parents. If we are truly serious about improving graduation rates and preparing our children to compete in the 21st century global economy—expanded parental choice must be a readily available option.”
LetParentsChoose.org
School Choice Movement Launches Major National Campaign to Recruit 10,000 Activists“School Choice Works” campaign is the first national outreach effort for voucher and tax credit proponents.(Washington, D.C.) November 11, 2008—The national school choice movement today launched an aggressive campaign to recruit 10,000 new activists. Coordinated by the nonprofit Alliance for School Choice, the School Choice Works campaign will promote the benefits of school vouchers and tax credit scholarship programs. The effort will coincide with the start of 2009 state legislative sessions. (Visit www.LetParentsChoose.org for details.)The Alliance, which is the nation’s largest organization promoting school vouchers and tax credit scholarships, will launch a blitz of online advertising and radio promotions to spread the word about the recruitment effort. According to the Alliance, School Choice Works is the movement’s first national outreach campaign. The Alliance estimates that it will meet its goal of recruiting 10,000 new supporters by as early as January 2009.The campaign’s Web site, www.LetParentsChoose.org, encourages supporters to sign up for free information kits, subscriptions to magazines, advocacy guides, bumper stickers, and e-mail updates.“America's hardworking families should have the right to choose the schools that work best for their children," said School Choice Works Campaign Director Andrew Campanella. “Special interests have long dominated the public debate over vouchers, but our campaign will present the true life-changing stories of the families who have benefited from school choice programs. We also look forward to providing new ways for our supporters to help advance this important cause.”More than 152,000 children participate in 18 school choice programs operating in 10 states and the District of Columbia. The bipartisan base of support for school choice is growing every year, with public opinion polls showing stronger support among Democrats, African-Americans, Latinos, and Hispanics than ever before. The School Choice Works campaign will shine a spotlight on the failures of many public schools in America. Despite the best efforts of many educators, roughly 4 million children attend failing or underperforming schools. More than 1 million kids drop out of school each year. Every 26 seconds, another child drops out of school.“Despite what defenders of the status quo have told us for decades, more money alone will not solve this problem,” said Alliance President Charles R. Hokanson. “How to improve schools is not a mystery. It simply requires the will to make the necessary changes. Wherever school choice has been tried, it has worked for participating children and parents. If we are truly serious about improving graduation rates and preparing our children to compete in the 21st century global economy—expanded parental choice must be a readily available option.”
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Strong Arguments for School Choice
To coincide with both the Democrat Nation Convention and the Republican National Convention, the Alliance for School Choice (ASC) distributed this press release making the strong, sound case for school choice. ASC’s release makes several strong arguments that school choice produces real results and helps the public school system by adding competition to the mix.
In Missouri school choice is becoming a great option for parents who have children in failing and unaccredited schools. Although strides have been made in this area, there is much more work to be done to make sure children and their parents have real options when making decisions on education. For example, charter schools are currently only allowed to operate in the St. Louis and Kansas City school districts. These schools that are held accountable for educating children should be allowed to operate in other markets in Missouri. Children need options all across the state, not only in St. Louis and Kansas City. Also, scholarship tax credits must be available for special needs and low income families so they can chart the best course for their child’s education. All too often these groups who need the most help are left behind and given little or no options to provide a good education for their child.
ASC’s press release makes strong arguments for the need for school choice not only in Missouri, but all across the country. Hopefully leaders in both political parties will take note of the positives that school choice offers and work to offer options to all children.
In Missouri school choice is becoming a great option for parents who have children in failing and unaccredited schools. Although strides have been made in this area, there is much more work to be done to make sure children and their parents have real options when making decisions on education. For example, charter schools are currently only allowed to operate in the St. Louis and Kansas City school districts. These schools that are held accountable for educating children should be allowed to operate in other markets in Missouri. Children need options all across the state, not only in St. Louis and Kansas City. Also, scholarship tax credits must be available for special needs and low income families so they can chart the best course for their child’s education. All too often these groups who need the most help are left behind and given little or no options to provide a good education for their child.
ASC’s press release makes strong arguments for the need for school choice not only in Missouri, but all across the country. Hopefully leaders in both political parties will take note of the positives that school choice offers and work to offer options to all children.
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