(One of the articles mentioned in scrimetime's post.)
As a result groups like ALEC have no problem finding fault with the system. The system simply does not work for all kids. Personally, I think education funding should be nationalized, but actual spending controlled at the local level. Some adjustments could be made for cost of living, but students in Detroit should have a similar amount of money spent upon them as compared to students in Grosse Pointe. Until this is the case, we have institutionalized inequality in public schooling, and vouchers and charter schools are going to be an attractive alternative for parents living in underfunded districts.
- we have institutionalized inequality in public schooling, and vouchers and charter schools are going to be an attractive alternative for parents living in underfunded districts.
These things might seem more attractive, but vouchers take money from already underfunded districts, and charter schools appear to be more corrupt and no more effective than the worst public school districts.
I only skimmed the linked article, but I think throwing charter schools under the bus because some have engaged in sketchy behavior is dangerous. Our kids have done public neighborhood schools and are now in a charter school. I can tell you, both systems SUCK ASS. The first public school my kids attended was great - but we were renting a home in a nicer neighborhood. When we bought our home, and moved, of course we couldn't afford to stay in the nicer neighborhood and despite our new neighborhood school being brand new, it was garbage. The local funding is hugely problematic. The charter school, though it is a great fit for our current situation, is horrifically underfunded and I feel this constant anxiety that if we don't fund raise half a million dollars every year - my kids are back in the crap-ass neighborhood school. But lest we think funding will solve the education problem in america, the real thing that is needed is better parents. Sorry. We suck at it. I don't mean my wife and I (although I have my shameful moments). Funding is part of the overall equation, but it starts at home. That is the root cause of the education problem in america (IMO). The problem is then magnified by improper funding, fraud, greed, and mismanagement. but that's just an idiot parent's rant.
It's odd, my parents were both teachers and usually voted Democratic, and they supported property tax based funding, partially because they moved to a better district for that reason.
My single mother moved to a good school district in an area that was spendier then she probably wold have lived in if she were childless so I could get a better education, poorer people do in some cases have some options. Personally I think how we teach kids money or no money is a shitty soul crushing factory for dysfunction and unhappiness. Or at least I don't feel like I got much out of my 13 or so years of public schooling when I compare it to what I learned from reading books or asking people questions. I think school did help me become anti-authoritarian, for which I might owe it some kind of debt. Band and art classes were fun, but I doubt that we would have those if we severed communities ability to go the extra mile.
- Personally I think how we teach kids money or no money is a shitty soul crushing factory for dysfunction and unhappiness. Or at least I don't feel like I got much out of my 13 or so years of public schooling when I compare it to what I learned from reading books or asking people questions. I think school did help me become anti-authoritarian, for which I might owe it some kind of debt. Band and art classes were fun, but I doubt that we would have those if we severed communities ability to go the extra mile.
True enough, and teaching has only become more codified, not less, over the last decade. Teachers need the respect and trust that it takes to sit back, and let them do their job. Just posted an article to that point: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/print/2012/04/to-fix-ame... Actually, I think that might be a trend across this whole country. No one seems to trust employees to do what they were hired for without some sort of prodding and patronizing.
I agree with you completely. The current system of allocating money to schools just serves to increase the privilege that wealthy families enjoy.