Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Laverle Busenitz
The Newton Kansan
With our state having a severe budget crisis, it seems to me parents would like to give their children more choices as to their education — not the status quo of ‘one size fits all’. I think the following may show the need.
The “Interstate Survey” project, commissioned by The Foundation for Educational Choice and conducted by Braun Research Incorporated, interviewed more than 600 registered voters in each of six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey and New York. A total of 3,614 telephone interviews were conducted in English from July 26 to Aug. 1, 2010, by means of both landline and cell phone.
“Whether they are relatively happy with their schools’ performance or very displeased, Americans see the value in giving families options,” said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of The Foundation for Educational Choice. “If a voucher, tax-credit scholarship, or charter school can give a child an effective, personalized education, then that child has the right to receive it. This study shows voters agree.”
With state budget crises looming, quality and cost of government services will be on voters’ minds.
“At a time when states are struggling to make ends meet, the public is unaware of how much is being spent in schools,” Enlow said. “Meanwhile, Americans are generally not thrilled with the results. Voters are waking up to the reality that merely spending more on education does not necessarily result in a better education for children — and if they knew how much is really being spent, they would be shocked.”
When I had my schooling, there was a lot of talk of breaking up monopolies so small enterprises wouldn’t have to compete unfairly. What happened? The U. S. used to be the leader in education.
— Laverle Busenitz, Halstead
