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The Problem with "School Choice"


Recently there's been a lot of talk and even some legislation passed regarding what politicians like to call "school choice" and "funding following the student". At first glance these sound like great things. Parents being able to choose a school based on its merits, rather than children just attending whatever public school they live closest to, would create competition, hopefully leading to better public schools. The thing is, you can already do this. We already have school choice in this country. There are many valid education options outside of the public school system, and there are no laws preventing anyone from using them. If you are dissatisfied with your local public school, you are allowed to pull your children and home educate them or enroll them in a private school of your choosing. We don't need new legislation granting us school choice, we already have it.

There are a lot of people in the homeschool and private school communities who think that funding following the student sounds great. I mean who wouldn't want extra money for more educational resources? The problem is that government money always comes with strings attached. Accepting funds from the government opens up private education and home education to increased government regulation and intrusion. Do you really want the same people who are destroying the public school system sticking their fingers into private education? 




Home education already works wonderfully without their "help". One of the things that makes homeschooling and other alternative education programs so great is the freedom there is for students to learn in whatever way works best for them. Once the government steps in, these types of educational paths will be subject to increased regulation and oversight, and they will lose the freedom that makes them so wonderful.

If we really want families to have more money to fund their children's education, reduce school taxes. Families would have more money in their pockets without paying the overhead costs of transferring it to the government just to recieve some of it back in the form of highly regulated vouchers. 

I hope that those who are new to homeschooling and private education will take the advice of those of us who have been in this community for a long time- you don't want their money. It's not worth the hoops they will make you jump through. It is not worth the loss of freedom. Please remember the hard work and dedication of the homeschoolers that came before you and paved the way. Homeschooling wasn't always legal in many states. Families fought long and hard for this freedom, respect that and help preserve this important right. Get involved- write your legislators and help educate others about the problems with school choice legislation.

I also ask those of you with children who attend public schools to consider the effect that "school choice" type legislation would have on the private school and homeschool communities. It's not right to sacrifice a system that is working great for millions of families to save another system. Funding following the student may be a good thing within the public school system, but please leave private education out of it. Someday you might be interested in education outside the public school system, help make sure that option is always available to you and others. 



If you enjoyed this post, check out:

The Benefits of Student Led Learning

School Isn't for Socializing


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  1. One and Done MomApril 27, 2023 at 6:18 PM

    This is so very true! I am not one for co-parenting with the government. You trade money for freedom.

    ReplyDelete

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