Read Part IV here
Once the first stage of the program has been accepted (parents can place their children at any of the government-run schools in their district, and federal funding follows the students to that school) and the second stage has been successful (the teachers unions are exposed), then the third stage can proceed: allowing private schools into the federal program. These schools will be required to meet the same minimum certifications that the government-run schools are. Obviously, private schools will still charge a tuition since they are not funded by tax-payer dollars, as are the government-run schools. Therefore, the government will reimburse parents who choose a private school over a government-run school, up to the amount a government-run school receives for each student. If the tuition charges is less than the amount it costs to fund a government-run school, then taxes will decrease. If a private school chooses to charge a tuition that is more than the cost of a government-run school, then they parent will have to choose to pay the difference out of pocket or not attend that school. This is typically referred to as the “voucher” system.
Opponents (other than the corrupt teachers unions) typically raise two issues once the private schools enter the mix: private schools can charge any amount they see fit and private schools can be religion-based. Prestigious private schools are free to charge higher tuition which usually prohibits lower-income families from attending. Religious schools, such as Catholic schools, may offend some and give the impression of a state-sponsored religion. These topics should be addressed at a local level and are, for the most part, minor issues that should not be allowed to derail the entire program.
This program is based on Milton Friedman’s voucher system proposed in his 1980 book “Free to Choose”. The difference in this program is that it is broken into three stages meant to ease skeptical parents into the system. Currently, inner-city African-Americans would benefit from this program most, both in immediacy and in significance. If John McCain is looking to sway any African-American voters to cast their vote for him, I implore him to seriously promote a school voucher system.
Read Part III Here
The first stage of this plan for McCain to win the black vote should probably last about 2-4 years in order for inner-city parents to gain confidence in the new competitive system. However, due to the teachers unions’ objection to an individual’s freedom to choose, it may take a few years longer to break the unions’ monopolistic, collusive, suppressive hold they have over lower-income families.
Therefore, the second stage must be to expose the true mission of these corrupt, power-hungry teachers unions. Once constituents can see their children’s fate is being manipulated in order to line the pockets of the union leaders, the parents will lose sympathy for the purpose of the union. Once the union’s “cause” is no longer supported by the community, lazy and inefficient teachers will be the first to feel the crunch. The schools will not allow good teachers to take a hit in the pocketbook because good teachers will bring in the students – and the schools who have an increase in students will receive an increase in the federal funds. Government schools will receive funding based on their enrollment numbers; so if students go to the school next door, so will the money.
Once the unions are broken, and the parents can see firsthand the advantages of the government-run schools competing for their children (and therefore the federal funding), the plan can move on to the last stage of school choice: allowing the private-sector into the mix. Monday I will present the last stage of how Senator McCain can win the black vote.
Read Part II Here
The first step reaching the racial equality defined by most social scientists (equal opportunities without government meddling) is to allow inner-city African-Americans to have the freedom to choose which government-run school they would like to attend. For the first few years, the choices between government-run schools would have to be limited to those within the city’s school district or some other reasonable limit. This would allow the government to still maintain necessary bussing options until the schools have a chance to balance out from the competition.
This inter-district competition will allow parents to decide which school their child will attend, at zero cost to the family (other than the effort of filling out the proper registration at the chosen school). Initially, the mere act of parents changing schools will prompt schools to not lose any other students and keep the ones they gained. Those schools that do not adapt will continue to lose students until that school either makes such adaptations or closes its doors. Cities must allow each school to act independently and forbid collusion.
Theoretically, the first improvement schools will make will be the easiest: safety. Once a school becomes safe, the environment itself automatically improves to the point where teaching and learning now become the top concern.
One of the biggest concerns is that some students will still be limited in their school choice because of accessibility. Therefore, in the initial stage, the government-run schools in the city will still have to offer bussing to all of the city’s schools, which usually is about 10 elementary schools and a few middle and high schools. One sacrifice a family may have to make if they choose the farthest school would be allowing extra travel time.
The biggest opposition to such a program is the teachers union. Teachers unions, as with all established unions, are not concerned with their customers; they are concerned with securing the highest pay for the least work. Introducing competition into the classroom will be opposed by the lazy and inefficient workers who are most vocal in such unions. Therefore, non-union teachers will be required for inner-city African-American children to receive adequate education. If not for the teachers unions, it is quite possible such a plan would already be in place. Later this week I will look at how this will pan out after the initial stage.
Read Part I here
Inner-cities have been Democrat strongholds since between the World Wars. This is about the time the Great Depression hit and most Americans were suckered by the quick-fix socialism offered by the FDR administration bundled nicely in the neat package called the “New Deal”. Since then, the Founding Fathers’ worst fear has come true (thanks to one Franklin “Dumbass” Roosevelt): Once the people discover that they can vote themselves the treasury, the republic will cease to exist.
Soon after the Second World War ended, the white-flight phenomena began. This left the inner-cities sparsely populated driving down property values which allowed lower income families to afford to move in. The vast majority of the new inner-city residents were now African-American. Other factors played into African-Americans staying or moving to the inner-city besides affordability – mainly Democrat-encouraged Jim Crow laws in rural areas; inner-cities offered a strength in numbers environment. Thanks to “progressive” segregation and Democrat racism, African-Americans became understandably irate at the situation. How did the Democrats respond once their actions were exposed during the Civil Rights era? Hush money. Out of the Democrat’s guilt came even more payouts in the form of clever welfare payments that now made the low-income inner-city African-Americans a slave to the Democrats once again.
Since John McCain is not showing any signs of aggravating his Democrat allies, there is little chance he will free African-Americans from government dependence which prevents them from regaining control of their own financial destiny. However, there is another way to break the Democrat’s ultimate plan of an enslaved population: free the schools and you will free the minds. This must be done slowly, and the first step is to allow inner-city African-Americans to choose which government-run school they would like to attend. More Friday on what impact this simple act can have on leveling the playing field the natural way.
Inner-city urban areas have a reputation for their failing government-run school systems across the US. These failing government agencies are riddled with crime, truancy, violence, drop outs, and a culture shunning effort and studying. Unfortunately, the government assigns almost all African-Americans to these failing government cesspools. The mere fact that the government requires inner-city African-Americans to be educated at failing government institutions does not fit in with traditional American freedoms.
When given the opportunity, the parents of most inner-city children will choose to send their children to a school that is free of the crime and violence which surrounds their homes and neighborhoods. To most African-Americans, having an opportunity that promises a strong education in a secure environment is a top priority. However, both Democrat candidates seek to ensure that the school choice option is not only off the tables, but completely discouraged. Instead, both Obama and Clinton vow to increase the government’s hold over these schools and maintain the current failed system. McCain has remained silent on this issue.
If John McCain wants to sway the urban voters, this is his ace in the hole: school vouchers aimed at the parents of inner-city school children. Wednesday I will look at how exactly school choice is the first step in addressing the wealth discrepancy plaguing urban areas.
