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QED

(2,946 posts)
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:28 PM Feb 2017

Why are vouchers such a scam?

Here is a piece explaining why vouchers only benefit the wealthy.

Montini: 'So, moron, why shouldn't I get a school voucher?' OK, I'll tell you

"...really good private schools are expensive. For example, Gov. Ducey sent his boys to Brophy College Preparatory. If Lesko’s bill passes any parent can get $5,000 in taxpayer money to send a kid there. Except Brophy (like most really good private schools) will set you back $15,000 a year or more. So unless you can afford the extra 10 grand per year, the voucher is worthless.

However, if you are already wealthy enough to afford such a school, the state will give you $5,000 that you don’t need.

That’s not choice. It’s a scam.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2017/02/10/montini-vouchers-arizona-legislature-empowerment-scholarship-accounts-debbie-lesko/97746516/

cross posted in Arizona

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why are vouchers such a scam? (Original Post) QED Feb 2017 OP
Vouchers are nothing but a way to DECREASE funding to public schools. Raster Feb 2017 #1
I agree QED Feb 2017 #3
Absolutely! I could not have said it better. Raster Feb 2017 #7
Vouchers are coupons for rich people. forgotmylogin Feb 2017 #8
at the expense of everyone else Raster Feb 2017 #9
It is far more interesting, and you might enjoy digging in HoneyBadger Feb 2017 #10
Arizona is less than half that QED Feb 2017 #12
I believe that NYC has the biggest school system in the US HoneyBadger Feb 2017 #13
This is a pretty well known local parent that is conspicuously involved with his kid's schools HoneyBadger Feb 2017 #11
Forgotthe Sarc... Boxerfan Feb 2017 #2
LOL QED Feb 2017 #4
Kick! Squinch Feb 2017 #5
Let's say your name is Rich and you make millions HoneyBadger Feb 2017 #6
k&r Starry Messenger Feb 2017 #14
Our local schools are poor performing. IndyJones Mar 2017 #15

Raster

(20,999 posts)
1. Vouchers are nothing but a way to DECREASE funding to public schools.
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:39 PM
Feb 2017

I AM A GAY MAN. I have no children, and I GLADLY pay taxes that support public education for all. Strong public education benefits EVERYONE. Private, segregated education benefits only a few.

I do NOT want my tax money going to subsidize anyone's private school education.

QED

(2,946 posts)
3. I agree
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:45 PM
Feb 2017

I don't want to pay for someone's religious education or subsidize a wealthy person's kid.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
10. It is far more interesting, and you might enjoy digging in
Sat Feb 11, 2017, 08:59 AM
Feb 2017

Here are websites that shows how much each school receives per student.

It is a cafeteria plan, with a lot of options, particularly where special Ed is concerned, but to simplify, 10 students covers each teacher's salary.

So if you wonder why your public school has 28 kids in a class (my school last year) vs a vastly better 18 (this year) .......

A public school gets about $20k per student. If a local government can get rid of that $20k and replace it with a $5k voucher, given that some people prefer it, guess what they are going to do?

http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/funding/FSFDetail/default.htm

http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/06/M311/AboutUs/Statistics/expenditures.htm

QED

(2,946 posts)
12. Arizona is less than half that
Sat Feb 11, 2017, 10:27 AM
Feb 2017

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2017, 11:10 AM - Edit history (1)

I think it's around $7000. AZ teachers' salaries are the lowest in the nation. I looked around - my salary in KY of all places would be $20k more. It's tempting.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
13. I believe that NYC has the biggest school system in the US
Sat Feb 11, 2017, 10:55 AM
Feb 2017

I know of 2 teachers and 1 principal that left the NYC for California in the last year. Pretty sure for similar if not better $.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
11. This is a pretty well known local parent that is conspicuously involved with his kid's schools
Sat Feb 11, 2017, 09:31 AM
Feb 2017

He sends one kid to public and one to private, he held a fundraiser a month ago to raise 50k for the PTA at the public, where he complained about how the private school is always hitting him up for more money, obviously he can afford to do whatever he wants.

My point is that rich people can be generous, and often have different ideas about what works for each kid. He famously is against Common Core, like the local teacher's union, like the Tea Party. But he is hardcore anti Trump. So implying that rich people are single minded in terms of schools is not accurate.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/louis-c-k-against-the-common-core

Boxerfan

(2,533 posts)
2. Forgotthe Sarc...
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:41 PM
Feb 2017

I hate these jeez why not see the Repuke point of view-it is sooo reasonable as in always...

If this is not a troll post-wtf??OOOPss-Sarcasm. Gotta read more than the headline I guess.

QED

(2,946 posts)
4. LOL
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:47 PM
Feb 2017

AZ wants to give the store away. It already has an acute teacher shortage because of the low salaries. The governor is trying to out Kansas Kansas.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
6. Let's say your name is Rich and you make millions
Fri Feb 10, 2017, 08:53 PM
Feb 2017

And your 2-3 kids have never been near a public school.

Let's say your name is Famous and you make millions, and have 2-3 kids in public school.

Let's say your name is Religious, you work a city job, and have 2-3 kids in Catholic school.

Let's say that you name is MinimumWage and you make very little, and have 2-3 kids in public school.

These are very different scenarios. I know people is all 4 situations. Vouchers help some and hurt others by taking money out of the public school system and putting it into Catholic or private.

IndyJones

(1,068 posts)
15. Our local schools are poor performing.
Sat Mar 18, 2017, 11:13 PM
Mar 2017

Our family has to give up a lot to pay $15K per year tuition. We are by no stretch of the imagination wealthy. I hope that I can get a voucher for $5K. That will be huge for our family. That is really ridiculous to say that only wealthy families pay for private school. A lot of us do it by borrowing and working more than one job. If you have great public schools near you, then you're lucky. We don't. And my husband has been out of work for seven months and counting. I really, really hope we can use vouchers next year.

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