VOUCHERING EDUCATION

I have devoted most of my life, and almost all my career, to furthering public education. Unfortunately, it may be dying a slow death.

The K-12 system has already suffered enormous losses. Just last year 40% of all jobs lost in America were from public schools and it doesn’t look like that will improve soon. Vouchers and charter schools are taking over public education, which is not a good thing.

Vouchers (tax credits) like the ones proposed by the Oklahoma legislature are a joke. They include families making up to $122,379 annually, although they were sold as an opportunity for low-income children to attend private schools.

Well more than half of our population qualifies for the scholarships, which are capped at $5000 per student.

Of nine private schools in Okla. City and Tulsa, the tuition range is $5,655 to $16,475. The average was $11,011.33—which leaves “low income” families with a bill of $6,011.33! Truly low income families cannot afford that!

Post-secondary education is also facing direct hits by legislators around the nation. “For profit” colleges have popped up throughout our country, with devastating consequences for many students.

Public schools, technology centers, colleges, and universities have to abide by certain guidelines in order to maintain accreditation. Those guidelines ensure accountability and successful outcomes. We are extremely fortunate to have several quality post-secondary opportunities for youth in the area. The post-secondary schools work closely with workforce professionals and industries to provide courses that will lead to jobs in demand occupations that provide self-sufficient wages for our citizens.

The educators with whom I’ve had the privilege of working are professionals who’ve devoted their lives to providing valuable opportunities for young people—all young people, not just the privileged few. Some have forgone their own opportunities to make a lot of money to do so. Many teachers themselves live on “poverty wages” and their own children qualify for free or reduced rate lunches.

Children deserve to be valued by people who care deeply for them and their futures, instead of private industries that see them as “raw materials” used to make profits.