Critical Analysis of Problems and Issues in Education

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The School Voucher program was designed to give families a choice about where their children could go to school. The program offered a fixed dollar amount each year to put toward a child’s tuition. Their choices ranged from private or parochial schools, these are schools that many of these children may not experience otherwise. Charter schools were also options because they are run much like private schools. The thought behind voucher programs is that a sense of competition would be created. The hope is that a higher educational output and an improved level of education would be provided. Proponents of the program believe that children from poor public school districts should have the same opportunity for quality education as kids in wealthier private schools do. The goal was that vouchers would create a level playing field in the arena of education. “The Center for Education Reform and the Friedman Foundation [ardent supporters] of school vouchers [believe that] vouchers are an important means for promoting school choice “(Council for Economic Education, 2011). Rose and Milton Friedman state, “school choice is about giving all parents the chance to be integral participants in their children’s education. Power and choices make people feel more involved, more effective and more satisfied as citizens”(Council Economic Education, 2011)

Detractors of the program feel vouchers are siphoning off much needed funding from the public education system (Econedlink, 2011). Is this a fair distribution of resources and does choice hurt or helps public education? As public school administrators continue to fight for funds to keep their struggling schools operating, are vouchers the way to go? Maybe the key is to improve public educatio...

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...Left Behind (2011). Retrived June 2, 2011 from http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/4pillars/html

Peterson, P. (2003). A choice between public and private schools: what next for school vouchers. Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.

Reed, J. (2011, March 28). School Choice Should be Part of Education Reform, The foundation for Educational Choice. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from http://www.edchoice.org

Riley, J. (2011, May 03). Wall Street Journal, The Evidence is in: School Vouchers Work, The Foundation for Educational Choice. Retrieved May 21, 2011 from http:wwwedchoice.org

“School Vouchers: The Wrong Choice for Public Education.” Adl.org. 14 May 2011

Anti – Defamation League
“The Controversial School Voucher Issue.” Econedlink.org. 14 May 2011 Council of Economic Education

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