“Our experiment with the tax credit has gone as far as it needs to go,” said State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur. Oliver said the tax credit does not help the long-term stability of public schools. “I don’t believe that this continued push for taxpayer money to go to private institutions helps public education.”
No where in that little quote do you see any concern for the quality of the education being given to the kids, rather it is all about propping up what is yet being exposed as another failed government program, in this case public schools.
There is a little bit of a firestorm going on in Georgia right now because for about 5 years companies and individuals have been able to claim a tax deduction for contributing voluntarily to scholarship funds that are given to private schools. These funds are then used by the private schools to attract students and more importantly help parents finance the cost of the education. Parents who would otherwise be denied this opportunity.
Of course Dems hate it and want it stopped. Who are these barbarians that keep insisting on having choices? The real fight though is about taxpayer dollars. See if you can find the flaw in this former government worker's logic?
Fred Dissen of Flowery Branch, a retired government clerk, said he has serious concerns, as a taxpayer, about the program’s fairness.
“If I take that as a tax deduction then my fellow citizen has to make up the amount of tax that I didn’t pay,” Dissen said.
“I think that is unfair. That is just subsidizing a private school.”
When you see the buzz word "fairness" your BS detector should start ringing. Let me explain it to you Mr Dissen. Less students in public schools doesn't mean less students overall and it should allow for further cut backs in the number of facilities required to be maintained by taxpayer dollars since public schools should be able to consolidate schools and also reduce staffing. If you are worried about teachers jobs I would think a good teacher could work just as well at a private school as they can at a government school and like I already said there is no fewer students so the demand for teachers should not be affected. Unless of course you don't think public school teachers couldn't measure up to the standards expected of them from parents who have kids in private schools. So fewer facilities, and fewer teachers would actually mean a decreased burden on the taxpayer so there is no shortfall to make up.
You will never hear the Democrats argue the merits of the education children will receive whenever the topic of school choice comes up. Instead they will tug at the heart strings with cataclysmic stories of homeless teachers standing in bread lines, which once again only leads one to the conclusion that that only happens if the probably union member teacher, who apparently has no other marketable skills, was not able to get a job teaching at a private institution.
As far as that state representative comments about taxpayer money going to private institutions doesn't help public education, I would just say taxpayer dollars going to public schools certainly doesn't help public education either. It has already been proven over and over again that the amount of money thrown at schools does not guarantee a better education. For the state of Georgia, the city of Atlanta spends more, almost double as a matter of fact, per pupil, and yet continually ranks down at the bottom even while their neighbors in the adjoining metro areas spend less and constantly receive national recognition for their schools and students. If you could take the Atlanta school district test scores and graduation rates out of the reporting statistics the state would probably move up about 10 positions on those list of best education lists. I am sure she will remind you it is all about the kids though. It always is
Democrats can not stand the idea of choices. Whether it is in the food you eat, activities you engage in, the type of car you drive or the health insurance you choose to have or not have, to them there is only one choice and that is to have the government dictate it to you. Sort of frees you up from all that personal responsibility thing and makes life so much easier and stress free when you can at once blame government for your failings in life and at the same time allow them to make all of your decisions for you. Well actually, you don't have to make decisions anymore.
And that folks is called liberal utopia.
3 comments:
My kids have gone to public and private schools duirng K-12 years
Catholic schools are about 40% cheaper than what it takes to fund a top 15% public school. Almost all the difference can be accounted by much smaller administration, much lower fringe benefits and parent help in maintaining the infrastructure as well as providing add-ons like tutoring.
Salaries are not a big difference maker in the overall budget. Half the public school costs do not show up in funding studies because items like grounds and buildings are ignored. Try doing that with a private venture.
Just go to opensecrets.org and see how much the teachers unions shovel to the Dems during any given election cycle, and you'll know why...
Over the years I have done some contracting with our local school district, and it was an eye opener. The amount of pure waste and incompetence by district employees would earn a manager in a private company a quick escort to the door. I've seen perfect desks and office equipment just thrown in the trash so that the individual schools could requisition more of the same. When I asked an employee why, they replied "if we don't requisition new stuff the district will cut our budget next year". Not exactly the kind of thinking that promotes fiscal responsibility. By the way, the district is not allowed to donate any of this "surplus" equipment to any outside organization. Disgusting!
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