🚀 go-pugleaf

erik@acspr1.acs.brockport.edu  writes:



>	the only problem I have with a voucher system is how will we protect the
>"average" kids from being warehoused.  It appears that nobody is talking about
>capitolism here.

>	You live in a school district with 5000 students, and 5 schools.
>	School A has room for 1000 students.  It is by far the best school in the
>neighborhood (a computer for each student, the best teachers, whatever).  
>*EVERYONE* wants their child to go to this school.  Clearly it can't accept 5000
>students...so either:
>	a.) they take the top 1000 students, giving them a wonderful education
>		hey, if you kid can't pass the Entrance exam, or doesn't have
>		the grades...tuff.
>	b.) they raise their prices (so only the 'rich' can afford it...now they
>		have EVEN more money...and they can hire even better teachers, 
>		get better resources, etc)
>  
>	now, we can probably assume that this isn't a *bad* thing.  at least 
>1/5th the students will get a good education.  In a sense this is how colleges
>work.  But in a college environment, students can move to go to school where they
>want.  not all school (like existing public schools), can house students like
>colleges can.

>	now, we can assume that no matter how 4 of the schools spit up the students
>there will always be some students who will be left out.  So, lets say the 
>"worst" school in this system decides not to provide *any* education (they have a 
>captive audience -- ie the students who couldn't get into the other 4, because of
>either grades, or money).  This last school just warehouses students for money.

Would you send your kids to that school? If not, why assume other parents are
more likely to.

I seriously disagree with your assumption that the schools in the area are
static. It is VERY likely that

  - one or more of the good schools will expand and take in more students.
  - a new school will open in the area that is better than the worst existing
    school.
  - the worst school will be operating below capacity. They lose money and
    are finally taken over by new management, who improves the quality
    in an attempt to get more customers.

I don't see the situation you describe lasting for very long unless some
outside force comes in to maintaine it. As happens now with the public
schools.

    ++PLS