Unfettered Letters

School vouchers

For a system that graduates less then 50 percent of its students (4/1, A-1, “Dropout ranking high for district”) I would think the use of private-school vouchers is a no-brainer.

Why do the patrons of Kansas City’s obviously incapable system continue to put up with it? Demand vouchers and close these incapable public institutions. Or does the threat of the free market to the entrenched unions override your children?

George Hunsucker
Kearney

‘School choice’ debate

Becky Dunn (11/10, Letters) of the Children’s Educational Alliance of Missouri misrepresents the “school choice” debate.

At their own expense, every parent has the choice to send children to private schools. The constitutional debate is about use of coerced tax money for support of private or religion institutions.

In America, the support of religion is to be voluntary.

In 1947, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, “The establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment means at least this ... no tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion.”

Gene Garman
Master of divinity
Pittsburg, Kan.

Many chose private schools

In response to Laura Scott’s column “School choice doesn’t necessarily add up” (11/5, Opinion), the study she refers to was not broad in scope nor can its conclusions be useful in debunking the concept of school choice.

The study focused on the choices made by parents within the Wisconsin public school system and did not look at choices made by parents to send their children to private schools.

According to the State Audit of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (February 2000), 71 percent of parents exercising choice in Milwaukee sent their children to private schools.

In addition, parents being dissatisfied with their choice does not mean they are dissatisfied with having a choice.

Parents, not government, should decide what school will provide the best learning environment for a child, just as parents determine where their child will attend college. It makes strong economic sense for urban and rural communities to improve access to high quality education.

Becky Dunn
State coordinator, CEAM (Children’s Educational Alliance of Missouri)
Columbia

Churches and education

I was recently substitute-teaching for a middle-school health class of boys and girls. AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases were the topics. The students began to discuss every kind of issue and question you could possibly imagine while laughing.

I looked at the paraprofessional who was in the class and said, “Did you notice that there are churches and parishes on the major street corners around this school and yet you can see they are having a minimal impact?” She agreed with me wholeheartedly.

In my opinion, issues surrounding the public schools — including the possibility of going to vouchers — are among the most pressing and important facing our nation.

I respect the fact that clergy are busy people tending to the concerns of people in their communities. However, I would like to challenge them.

Please take time from your busy schedules and substitute-teach in the public middle schools and high schools in your community. Or consider exploring vouchers for school choice.

I believe the result of this would be a renewed emphasis on the need to continue to address the moral issues and character training related to our youth.

Deborah Solomon
Independence

To help the homeless

Recently I visited the Country Club Plaza. As I was walking around, I saw homeless people asking for money, and my mom gave me an idea. Why doesn’t our city look into a voucher system that would be available for the homeless?

These vouchers would be good for food, clothing, medical supplies and everyday necessities. They would not be good for alcohol and cigarettes. This could be one way to help our city’s homeless.

Danny Brown
Leawood

Vouchers, public schools

Ron McGee (12/21, Letters) makes the point that if we had vouchers more funds would be available for use by public schools per student. This argument looks good on the surface, but I believe he is not taking everything into consideration.

I think he is saying that if there were $800 for public school students, and 80 students, there would be $10 per student. Now if five of these students elected to take vouchers at say 75 percent (5 X $7.50 = $37.50) of what a public school student would receive, then he is correct ($800 - $37.50 = $762.50, or $10.17 per student).

But he is not counting the other 20 students already in private schools who would want vouchers, too. Subtract those funds, and you will have less money per student.

This is just an example, but I think you can see where he is mistaken. If you take money out of the public schools and give it to the private schools, there will be less money per child. Do the math.

Mark Rasmussen
Olathe

Disturbing teen behavior

The As I See It (9/9) observations of Deborah Solomon regarding the absence of values from public school teaching are, indeed, sobering and distressing. She suggests vouchers to allow parents to choose private, religious or charter schools for their children so that students can openly be taught strong academic, religious and moral training. May I suggest an even more appropriate way this can be accomplished? Begin at home. I find that many children lack even the basic “please” and “thank you.” Ask for it, and they give you a questionable look of “What are you talking about?”

Recently I attended a high school football game to enjoy my granddaughter’s marching band participation. I was appalled at what I observed: inappropriate dress, and in some instances, the lack of dress, as well as the unabashed touching between the population of both sexes to the extent that I overheard a policeman at a concessions stand ask a couple to take their activity elsewhere.

My question: Did the fathers and mothers see their daughters leave the house that night? Did they know who they were meeting and where they might be going? Come on! Schools cannot do the job of the parents, but together the schools and the parents can correct and stop these unacceptable behaviors. Teach the values at home, see to it that they are heeded wherever they go, and launch a hue and cry to all educators to stop encouraging this nonsense and madness in our schools.

Claire A. Kuddes
Independence

Public schools criticized

Writer promotes ignorance

I am tired of The Star providing a forum for advocates of ignorance. Deborah Solomon (9/9, As I See It, “Values are missing from public school teaching”) offers: “My daughter was taught evolution (in a public school) from the viewpoint of an atheist.” This is ridiculous: Evolution does not take a position on the existence, works or abilities of God, period. There is nothing atheistic about it.

Solomon then says that her daughter dropped college English and psychology courses because she felt that the textbooks were pornographic. She doesn’t identify the books, so we can’t judge for ourselves, but having spent a great deal of time on college campuses during my careers, I find her claim incredible. We should trust the judgment of a college professor over Solomon’s willful ignorance.

The only “value” that Solomon demonstrates to be missing from public schools is the ignorance she champions. Bravo for the public schools. Fighting ignorance is a perfect use for our tax dollars. And, as for vouchers, we have too many ignorant adults like Solomon. Do we really want to make it easier for them to force their ignorance upon their children?

Julie L. Kramschuster
Lee’s Summit

She’s wrong about values

I have read few items so insufferable as the piece titled “Values are missing from public school teaching,” contributed by Deborah Solomon.

Solomon confuses values with religious beliefs. She does not mention honesty, respect for others, hard work or tolerance (values), but writes about Genesis, Chapter 1, sexual abstinence, and school voucher programs.

It may be news to her, for instance, that evolution is taught in public school science classes because those teachers and administrators place a high “value” on scientific inquiry.

If the writer wants her children to be taught fundamentalist Christian tenets, then she should send them to a school that offers that curriculum. But her children will be indoctrinated, not educated.

My parents and my father-in-law were career teachers in public schools. I resent anyone saying they did not practice the highest values in their approach to education, their dedication to students and their professionalism.

Robert L. Thatch
Kansas City