Vouchers are an Impediment to School Improvement
Private school vouchers "are not a solution to the problems of urban
education, but rather an impediment to the development and the funding
of effective solutions to those problems," the NEA and a group of
parents said in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The court on Wednesday (February 20, 2002) heard oral arguments on the
Cleveland, Ohio, private school tuition plan. The Court will review the
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s decision that
the plan is unconstitutional. Its ruling is expected to reshape the terms
of the debate and the character of voucher proposals for years to come.
"American teachers, parents, and others in the community will be
looking closely at this debate," said Bob Chase, president of the
2.6 million-member National Education Association (NEA). "Will we,
as a society, choose to enhance the quality of public schools – or
will we choose to divert resources to a few private school students?
"However the Court rules, we do not anticipate an expansion of voucher
plans, given strong public opposition," Chase said.
The case is being closely watched in Wisconsin, which has the nation's
largest private school voucher program in Milwaukee.
Lost in the debate over vouchers is the fact that roughly 90 percent
of American students are enrolled in public schools, Chase said, and the
nation should focus on direct efforts to improve public schools.
"Parents and educators would rather work together to reduce class
size, enhance teacher quality, and ensure all children are held to high
standards than continue this highly divisive and counterproductive effort
to move a few students from one school to another."
Chase pointed out that vouchers have very little support among the general
public. Since 1972, vouchers have been soundly defeated every time they
have come before the voters, and over the past decade, legislatures in
37 states have rejected vouchers.
Chase said that NEA will continue its efforts to improve public schools,
and he called on parents and others to join in building support for high
standards for students, teachers, and schools, as well as the resources
to help students be successful.
Bob Chanin, general counsel of the NEA, is the lead attorney for the
respondents in the case before the high court, Doris Simmons-Harris, et
al. .
Resource page on private school
vouchers
Posted February 20, 2002