Dave's "illusion of choice" regarding public schools
At one point in Dave's new column regarding allowing parents in North Portland the option of moving their kids to private schools, Dave states that he doesn't want these parents to have "the illusion of choice." That's funny, considering that's what Dave argues for when it comes to health inusrance.
Look, I'm not an expert on school issues. I haven't studied the issue, and I don't know what the best options or plans are to help failing schools and districts. I feel that schools are something committed parents and communtiy members rally together for and come up with proactive, progressive solutions to save so-called "problem" schools. I too would like to allow parents every available option on the table regarding the education of their children. Being said, one of these options should definitely entail a fully-funded district meeting every performance expectation.
If families don't have the option of a secure public school district, that bodes ill for the communities in which these families reside. I find it irresponsible for Dave to condone a voucher program similar to the one used in Milwaukee, Wisconsin while Portland's public schools are on such insecure financial footing. Especailly when Dave is a proponent of such ridiculous tax policies as Measure 5 and the so-called "kicker" law- which "kicks" billions of unforseen tax revenue to out-of-state corporations while leaving Portland's, and Oregon's, public school system financially strapped.
For Dave using the concerns that were addressed by parents at a recent meeting of the Black Alliance for Education Options is consistent with his practice of using other people's tragedy to push an agenda. In this case, the "broken public education" agenda that needs to be fixed with privatization, or school vouchers, which is an oft repeated mantra by conservatives. However, in so doing, Dav side-steps the symptoms and causes of the "broken education" issue. The next legislature needs to put together a proactive school-funding plan. This plan should provide a reassessment of the effect Oregon's tax policies have on the funding of the state's public school system, and whether its appropriate to have public school funding so reliant on revenue collected by property taxes, espeically in a state lacking a sales tax or a rainy day fund. And it goes without saying that the "kicker" should either be repealed or severely reduced, with the money re-routed to shore up Oregon's public schools. Then, once parents and families have healthy and vibrant public schools in their community, they can have alternative options- "choices"- for education, such as vouchers if so desired.
Dave's argument is similar to conservatives complaining about how "broken" government is, then proceed to get elected to office so as to prove this maxim correct. By framing his argument on the issue of providing choices, the only "choice" Dave offers is this one: ignore public schools and continue to watch them fail students, just so that parents can have vouchers for private schools. And when you're only left with one thing, that's not a choice at all.
That's called an "illusion of choice."
Look, I'm not an expert on school issues. I haven't studied the issue, and I don't know what the best options or plans are to help failing schools and districts. I feel that schools are something committed parents and communtiy members rally together for and come up with proactive, progressive solutions to save so-called "problem" schools. I too would like to allow parents every available option on the table regarding the education of their children. Being said, one of these options should definitely entail a fully-funded district meeting every performance expectation.
If families don't have the option of a secure public school district, that bodes ill for the communities in which these families reside. I find it irresponsible for Dave to condone a voucher program similar to the one used in Milwaukee, Wisconsin while Portland's public schools are on such insecure financial footing. Especailly when Dave is a proponent of such ridiculous tax policies as Measure 5 and the so-called "kicker" law- which "kicks" billions of unforseen tax revenue to out-of-state corporations while leaving Portland's, and Oregon's, public school system financially strapped.
For Dave using the concerns that were addressed by parents at a recent meeting of the Black Alliance for Education Options is consistent with his practice of using other people's tragedy to push an agenda. In this case, the "broken public education" agenda that needs to be fixed with privatization, or school vouchers, which is an oft repeated mantra by conservatives. However, in so doing, Dav side-steps the symptoms and causes of the "broken education" issue. The next legislature needs to put together a proactive school-funding plan. This plan should provide a reassessment of the effect Oregon's tax policies have on the funding of the state's public school system, and whether its appropriate to have public school funding so reliant on revenue collected by property taxes, espeically in a state lacking a sales tax or a rainy day fund. And it goes without saying that the "kicker" should either be repealed or severely reduced, with the money re-routed to shore up Oregon's public schools. Then, once parents and families have healthy and vibrant public schools in their community, they can have alternative options- "choices"- for education, such as vouchers if so desired.
Dave's argument is similar to conservatives complaining about how "broken" government is, then proceed to get elected to office so as to prove this maxim correct. By framing his argument on the issue of providing choices, the only "choice" Dave offers is this one: ignore public schools and continue to watch them fail students, just so that parents can have vouchers for private schools. And when you're only left with one thing, that's not a choice at all.
That's called an "illusion of choice."
posted by true_slicky at 6:59 PM
1 Comments:
Davey sends his kids to private schools. He wouldn't know what a public school was if his cute little intern at The Big O wheeled him into one!
Post a Comment
<< Home