Serious question for all believers and atheists/agnostics: Would you back individual school vouchers?

Question

Why or why not? Wouldn't this solve the problem of each of us having as pertains to evolution, creation, prayer, and faith?
For the record I pay taxes and home school my sons. Shouldn't I have a tax credit or allowance for what I spend homeschooling?

For those who say no to vouchers: Then why should you have more say than I as to what is taught in schools? Please note I am not recommending endorsing a religion or faith in school. I am stating the we all share the same rights.

Answer 1

Our taxes pay for public schools. Period. No I would NOT back vouchers.

Our schools are not funded enough now. If we took tax money away from them to fund every individual's personal choice for a school, i.e. homeschooling or parochial schools, there would be not enough left to run the schools that the taxes were meant to fund. The well is NOT a bottomless pit.

Even people without children must pay taxes to fund the schools. Why should anyone get their taxes back? My taxes pay for things that I don't use, and I don't complain because that is how everything runs. The money goes where it is needed. I am against giving tax money back so you can pay for alternate schooling. It goes where all our money goes, to run the country. It's called paying the bills.

Answer 2

I would back a system that would make the text books tax deductable. but that is just about as far as i would take it. a mechanic anc decuct the proce of any tools that he buys, so i could support a home school mother deducting the price of books and some basic teaching aids. but at the same time i feel that it is the choice of the parent to home school their children and because it is a choice the burden of the cost lies with them.

i would also reccomend that the parents buy text books that are current with the local school system and then the school could possibly buy the books back at the end of the year, or they could rent the text books to home school parents for the duration of a class. lower cost on the parent and much needed money for the school.

our schools are already under funded and our teachers are over worked.

many people do not have children and they must still pay the school tax.

i actually think that all taxes should be one lump sum with no fancy names attributed to individual departments that it will go to.

Answer 3

Evolution is not in a category with religion. It is a scientific theory, not a religion. Just because it conflicts with religion does not mean it should not be taught. Having freedom to choose conflicts with religion. We went through this same type of problem with the sun revolving around the earth, and the crusades. Mythology does not have a place in politics, or education. Letting everyone be forced to conform to what the majority likes is fascism, not democracy. When a dictator takes over, he rules because he has the most power. Having the majority of the people rule the others is the same. Democracy is having the government play a minimal role, so everyone has their own rights, and is not forced to follow the majority. All for one, and one for all type of thing. If I say I think math is evil, and should not be taught, does that mean schools should not be allowed to teach math? No I could go on, but I have already defeated the argument.

Answer 4

NO, NO, NO

I don’t have children and I pay taxes, why? Because we need to make sure that every child is educated and has the ability to make decent choices in life. This is what makes us a society and this is what makes a society strong. When you start pulling money away from education to fund someone’s decision to teach Christianity you hurt a multitude of other children and well really, that does not seem like the Christian way. I applaud that you wish to home school your children and that you feel strong in the belief system that you have chosen, so then should other children suffer for that choice? Does that seem fair? This is a real hot button for me cause I see daily the results of children who don’t have the means to attend schools that have all the educational items needed because of budget cuts. If you wish to have your child taught in an environment of YOUR choosing than so be it, make cutbacks work a second job whatever it takes to make your child’s education better, but stop and consider all the children who will be hurt by your private choice. Do they matter? Do they have a voice?

Answer 5

I would support vouchers. I think it is effective and gives the taxpayer more power in the educational system. I also think homeschooling is best for those who are able. In college several of my friends were homeschooled (which I thought was freaky at the time) but they consistently out-performed me academically (and socially, for that matter). Studies have shown they do better on standardized tests.

I do however worry about inner city kids and what a voucher system would do to their education and well being. Sometimes their lunch meal is the only meal they get. Their parents don't care about them and they practically raise themselves. I wonder if a voucher system would divert funds from these schools and make them worse. I'm not sure. It's complicated. But I agree with you.

Answer 6

Does no one else realize, that if this country would allow school vouchers, public schools would not suffer like you think? Because you are pulling your child out of the public system, and using the money for your SINGLE child to go to a different school. That means that the public school will not need your money for your child - because he/she does not go there anymore! School vouchers are not for the full amount of private tuition - they are in the amount of taxes you pay in to your school. Some people would get more, some less. And the childless homeowners will still be sending their tax dollars into the public school system.
Have you people SEEN the state of US Public Schools? It's absolutely atrocious! My children go to a public school, and I am personally horrified by the complete lack of education they receive. If I had the $$$, they would all go to private schools.
I think those who are qualified to, and choose to homeschool their children should be both applauded, and given a full tax credit towards the educational needs of their children. I would consider that to be only fair.

Answer 7

If you want your kids to grow up to be completely misinformed about the world they live in, by all means send them to a religious school, or home school them.

Education needs standards. These standards are knowledge, not belief. Faith, is not knowledge, nor is it evidence. I fear for the future based on how misinformed the children of today are. Public schooling does need a major reform but religion has no place in that structure. If parents want religious children it's there prerogative and their responsibility, and there is already a system in place for that, it's called Church.

Answer 8

dont know what you mean by school vouchers. im agnostic i went to a christian school from k-11th, my parents paid taxes and quite a bit to send me to school. but i guess they have to get their money somewhere. and i personaly dont believe anythiing, evolution, or religion should be taught to kids. it should be something that they should be allowed to decide for themselves. i dont think brainwashing is the answer. if they are only believing because they dont know of anything else then its not believing cause of personal desire. god gave us free will so that we would desire us to believe in him, not so we would brainwash others and take that desire away.

anyhow to further that i mean, i dont believe any of it should be taught in school due to the fact that this country is a basis for freedom of religion, by putting it in schools your encroaching on a large part of why the nation was founded. (evolution encroaches on persons religion as well, regardless to right or wrong of it)

hope you let ur kids out and do things a lot. i found that a majority of the kids that were homeschooled were really socially challenged at later ages. they were kids that no1 really wanted to be around or anything because the homeschooled kids didnt grow up around other kids and are just really different. (i dont mean to be disrespectful if you take it that way)

Answer 9

Parents pay taxes too, yet they are not given input to what and how their children are taught. As a tax payer I think we could save money buy letting the private sector take a wack at schooling our kids. They couldn't do much worse that public schools have.... Jim

Answer 10

I am strongly against school vouchers. No way, no how, not on my watch, put it in a song and sing it. Taking away from the poor and uneducated in this country is just wrong. I count you as my friend Debra and I beg you to consider the ramifications. Teachers are already underpaid and many schools struggle with their budgets. I am also a Christian and do my best to follow Jesus. I teach my children the difference between fact and conclusions (opinions) and I reconcile my beliefs and faith with them daily. You teach your children at home and I think that is awesome. Those who are poor and uneducated do not have that option. If we take away from those drowning in ignorance, we contribute to their oppression. Those of us who disagree with certain curriculum have the power to make changes.

PLEASE, HEAR ME ON THIS ONE DEBRA....VOUCHERS ARE JUST WRONG !!!