I am frankly very disappointed in the vibe I’m getting that Utah voters are turning around and deciding to revoke implementation of the voucher system. If you are planning to vote on this issue I think that the first thing you should do is read HB 174. It has come to my attention that there are people on both sides of this issue who are promulgating exceptionally nasty and deceptive misinformation in order to lure people their respective ways. I’ve heard that the media debate is surprisingly intense. I’m sure you already know that this is a huge experiment that the rest of the country is watching closely and people in other states have been contributing lots of money to weigh in for which ever side they support.
As for trying to make some kind of fair or insightful argument for why I think you should vote for it… I cannot at the moment do a very good job. As I look at this bill and consider all of my experience working in schools this whole thing looks like a no-brainer to me. I cannot find one honestly good substantial reason for the general citizen to vote against this voucher system. The way I see it is that it boils down to exactly one issue. What do you imagine the role of a school is? If you think schools should be maximizing learning you must maximize the potential for choice. If you think schools should function to control and regulate the behavior of young people so they pop out regressed towards the mean in everything they do, then vote to support the hegemony of public schooling. If you honestly believe in the fact that humans are all unique individuals with unique sets of talents and weaknesses then it should be plain to you that all of these people have different educational needs. No single model of school can meet the needs of everyone. It is not logically feasible. It is a road to assuring mediocrity, which as I translate it means wasted human potential. But, some honestly believe that is what our society needs. We need to put everyone together all the time, at every level, and for every academic task. If we do this, then everyone will suck together and no one will be able to point and say, “Hey it’s not fair, those black kids are doing better than those Hispanic kids!” (I'm going to refrain from my diatribe about race and the obfuscation of cultural relativism.)
Many are trying to put the impression across that the only flavor of private school is the blazer and tie prep school. This is very, super, friggin’, wicked wrong, the place I work being an extreme example. It is also a perfect example of another reason people need to be able to have choice in where they send their kids for school. Some kids have special learning needs. There are many kinds of such needs. The popular thing these days is to try and force every classroom teacher to learn how to work with and provide what’s needed for all of these needs. This is unreasonable. Just as trying to force the same learning situation on every bloody student makes them mediocre, doing this to teachers makes them mediocre in what they can provide for your kids. I have realized in my own development as a teacher that I have the potential of going from absolutely brilliant to bumbling moron in about 7 minutes, the time it takes for the periods to change and for me to get another batch of kids with completely different learning needs. (These days this is more like seven minutes for me to get into my lesson for the day. Different rant for a different day.) Private schools have a power that the public schools tend not to have: specialization and sometimes specialization in providing services for students with special needs.
Part of the magic secret here is something that I think is going to become my slogan or mantra or catch phrase or something: learning is voluntary. You cannot force someone to learn. You can encourage and provide opportunities. You can even encourage to the point of torture but, ultimately learning is an act of will. As much as possible I suggest letting individual students and their families exercise that will, especially when it comes to something that influences a person’s life and happiness as much as their education does.
So… it’s up to some of you folks. What’s more important: maximizing human potential or universal conformity?
Forgive me if certain parts seem kind of hysterical or confusing, I'm famished and not functioning very well. Also I want to point out, this is open for debate. If you think I'm wrong and have some argument that you think is convincing post it up here by all means. Be forwarned that I will gladly listen, discuss, and refute where appropriate.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Well put my friend. I was quite undecided until just recently. I have since come down in favor of the voucher system and your insightful rant has only strengthened my resolve. Originally what swayed me had nothing to do with the actual issue. It was the deceptive tactics used by the teachers' union, which were very similiar to ones used to oppose another bill which is near and dear to my heart.(which I will not go into now for various reasons.)
I believe the Union is afraid of losing control and ultimately power. If we as consumers have the power to choose, they lose the power to dicatate terms which they, nor any union, does not want to lose.
To make a very long story short, choice good.....Matt bad.
LOTTA LOVE FROM THE ORIGINAL FAT MAN!!!!
I agree, I have seen first hand how the system has failed. Robert has been pushed through the "system". They have gone through the hoops of IEP and then they told me many times that He is doing well, and no problems. And later find out that He was allowed to go in some one elses class and play computer games all day. He has been given A's for doing work many years below his grade level and A's for doing the same the same work next year. He has recieved credit for making copies at the students book store. He had credits put on his transcript for classes he never took. Utah has 3 tests to pass to get a regular diploma. The schools fought very hard to get the state to allow students who took the test a certain number of times to get a regular diploma.Robert passed passed one and he recieved a regular diploma. So much for no child left behind. The school has told me if a student does not want to go to class the school does not care. Thus public schools want no accountability for them and teach no accountabilitiy to the students.
Those who are worried about no accountability for private schools do not under stand the free market because, a free market says that if I, the parent, am not happy with their results the money and my child goes else were. The ultimate accountability.
I know that the parents who show an interest in their children are in touch with the children's needs far better than the employee's at the school who see inaccurate records and the student on occasion.
I could go on in many other angles, but you have probably heard enough from me.
Vote "YES"
It seems I'm turning into a John Stossel fan. I enjoyed this article:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/10/utahns_can_vote_for_school_cho.html
Post a Comment