How good are my arguments against publicly funded faith-based schools?

Question

I'm opposing the notion that faith-based schools should be publicly funded, and my arguments are:

1.) Why should the common guy pay money out of his own pocket to an organization that he doesn't know/care about?

2.) Why should we adopt an idea that the public clearly doesn't want? In Ontario where I live, I think it was around 60% of Ontarians that were opposed to the idea.

Are these good arguments and how would you counter it? Also, how do you stand on the idea of publicly funded faith-based schools?

Answer 1

OK, here is how I would counter.

1) I pay for many programs that I do not know or care about. I live in the US, and I pay for many programs. Some I like, some I don't. Examples of both: healthcare for non-citizens; sports stadiums; the arts (ballet, opera, theatre, museums, symphonies); parks; public television; libraries; social security; etc.

2) I don't know enough about school funding in Canada, so this is based on the states. In the states, the funding is per student. I agree with school choice. If I am paying for a student to go to a public school, why shouldn't a private school get the same funds. I look at our public schools and see social failure. To many of these kids do not understand that failure is not fatal, it is something to overcome. Many schools here have rules re correcting papers with red ink because it demoralized kids. Some say that in PE sports you can't keep score because it hurts to be on the losing team. Sorry, but aren't sports suppose to teach team work and doing your best. I don't see the same ideology in the private schools I have seen.

The arguments are ok. I don't mind grants for faith based schools, even though I am not a Christian or any other mainstream religion. My only feeling is that as long as the students get the rest of the info (besides religion) that they need, it should be covered since it is education. We looked at having my hubby's grandfather sponsor our daughter into a Jewish school because of the fact that hte education they recieve is superior. I do not approve of the new idea of birth control for 10-13 year old girls without parental notification, but that is covered by plenty of parents who disagree with the program.

Answer 2

I think you need to focus more on the legality of that issue than on what sounds like a taxpayer's rant.

Argument 1: We all pay taxes to fund things we don't care about. Some people oppose giving welfare to people or the Iraq War but they still have to pay taxes.

Argument 2: Kind of pointless. If the public doesn't want public-funded faith based schools, then they need to vote whoever suggested it out of office in the next election.

Here in America, just about any argument can be supported/refuted by the Constitution. I don't know what's in Canada's Constitution but I'd just figure out what federal/provincial laws pertaining to separation of church and state are.

I do not support publicly-funded faith based schools. In America we have a voucher system that allows poor children to attend private schools (religious or non-religious) at a reduced rate. But no money is directly given from the government to the school or the religious group that governs it. The rationale is that the government has an interest in benefiting the educational welfare of the child, but government should not fund religious groups.

Answer 3

It is wrong to publicly fund faith based schools. Let the churches that operate tax-free, collecting 10% of the collective salaries of their congregations support them - that's a flat tax and the appropriate funding mechanism for any faith-based institution. NO BENEFIT.

Answer 4

Why should the poor be denied an education in a faith based school if they cannot afford it?

Vouchers seem like a good idea as they allow people the FREEDOM to make their own choices. What a concept, glad I invented it.

Answer 5

Faith is a personal choice. Education is a publicly funding right.

I don't want my tax dollars funding religious teachings. That's the job of churches/temples and the family.

Answer 6

I agree that faith-based schools should not be publically funded. That's what tuition is for.
I also think that if the government is funding a private school, they can step in and say what can and cannot be taught.

Answer 7

Why should anyone have to pay a second time to have their children educated in a manner that is palitable to them? If you want your kids taught in a secular ammoral manner so be it. There are a lot of us who find that to be restricting us in our right to practice our religion.There are a lot of parents that can't afford that second hit to pay for private school and they should not have to. Assign X number of dollars for each kid and let the parents decide on the school they will attend. That is the only FAIR way to do it.

Answer 8

If we are discussing faith-based schools operating in the U.S. and receiving tax shelter as a result of their religious activities then I would say that these schools are already receiving funding in the form of tax they do not pay. That should be enough benefit.

Answer 9

In my opinion faith based schools should be funded by faithfuls by themselves. You are right in your arguments.

Answer 10

How about those tax free cash cows called Churches fund their own education.