Texas’ public schools are struggling — and vouchers make matters worse
Imagine if Texas had enough money to update all public schools, pay salaries appealing to the brightest and best graduates, and provide state-of-theart materials and equipment.
Imagine if private and parochial schools also requested state funding. I might stand at the front of the line to say, “Of course, Texas can fund private as well as public education.”
Unfortunately, we do not enjoy this luxury in Texas.
Reality means that August heat now rages with full force in Texas. Public school doors are opening for any and all children. Regardless of economic status, race, gender, academic or physical ability, health or behavioral issues, thousands of children can and will stream through the doors of public education.
Our teachers struggle to make financial ends meet. On their inadequate salaries, most teachers spend over $500 a year on basic school materials. Thirty percent of our teachers have second jobs. Many schools need repairs and upgrades. Yet, some Texans and lawmakers want money to go for private and parochial school vouchers.
Don’t get me wrong — I do not oppose private education. Parents who seek religious instruction have every right to pursue an environment that includes daily classes in religion. My only hesitation comes when we use taxpayer money designated for public schools to pay for nonpublic entities. Please consider the following reasons for concerns:
Texas cannot afford to fund two school systems: one for private schools and another for the public sector. Although we greatly appreciate the partial restoration of the 2011 budget cuts, Texas still ranks in the bottom quartile of states in per-pupil funding, according to data from the Texas Coalition for Public Schools.
Public schools receive federal and state money for children with disabilities. It is highly unlikely that private schools will be able to provide equivalent services. Also, special education students who leave the public system lose federal protections.
Concerns remain due to the lack of accountability for voucher dollars. All schools receiving money should be held accountable.
When children leave a district, the costs for teachers’ salaries, building maintenance and utilities continue. Those who claim schools will save money when a child leaves have been misled.
Vouchers primarily help families who can afford expensive private schools without assistance. On the other hand, families living in poverty will probably not be able to make up the difference between required tuition and voucher dollars.
The major question facing Texas should be: “What would it take to truly repair the ills of public education?
Instead of taking money, time and talent away from public schools, the state could use this opportunity to fix the system. Texas has money. Do we have the will to get the job done?
In Charlottesville, local community leaders, clergy and activists for equality stood against hate as neo-Nazis and white supremacists, armed and carrying Nazi flags and wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, tried to enter the park to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee.
One can argue the place in history or parks or college campuses for Confederate statues. There is no place for the hatred, racism and violence espoused by Unite the Right, David Duke and his ilk. Something
Re: Aug. 3 article, “Finding her way.”
What a great article! A real eye opener as to the stress that transgender individuals face every day!
Your estimated numbers of LGBTQ youths in Travis County and transgender adults in Texas were just mind-numbing. All the heartache and stress that so many thousands of people in the transgender community live with daily is unbelievable. The difficulty our elected officials have had coming to grips with a bathroom bill shows that there is no hope whatsoever of rendering real assistance to transgender individuals soon.
The only hope for helping and aiding transgender people is that “we the people” can find it in our hearts to have some understanding and compassion for the very real pain and suffering “we” are causing our friends and families!