Fits Lies, it is the State, not the United States, who is responsible for providing a free public education.

In the event that either of you are interested in educating yourselves, here’s a link to the SC Constition.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/scconstitution/a11.htm

If so, how much of a government subsidy would be enough for the “73,000 South Carolina school children (most of them black and poor)” to make that “choice”?

The reason the children of this state are being short-changed in their education is money, federal money and the lack of teachers who care about their students. School districts in this state will not receive federal funding unless they “pass” a certain percentage of students, whether they are able to read or write. How do you think so many children graduate without those skills? Teachers are afraid to have those children repeat a grade because of pressure from administrators. I could not believe it when I heard of this practice.

Maybe we should all stop the blame game and sit down together and work together for a solution that will benefit those who need it the most, the children.

If the SCRG isn’t able to do that then maybe the SCRG should spend thier resources and efforts toward getting the General Assembly to place a question on the ballot to repeal Article XI of the South Carolina Constitution dealing with Public Education. Chances are, that will never happen.

Under my proposal, the state would make scholarships available to children who are in failing schools, and only if their income is below say average family income for the state of South Carolina. Thus if you believe sending your kids to private school is necessary because your school is failing, and your income is such that you cannot afford it on your own; you could apply for a scholarship.

I would support such a program, as an experiment as to whether this so called competition has a positive impact on public education. This would be much less expensive than subsidizing the tuition of people already sending their kids to private schools.

The school choice people will never support this because they are not interested in improving education in SC. They are interested in the state subsidizing their choice of private school for their children.

That said, again, I have my criticisms of such organizations, including the SCEA. But I am absolutely floored that a libertarian-leaning group like SCRG would claim as “public money” wages that school teachers pay in dues to their organization. It’s just a really bizarre argument.

I was told two years ago by an ex-member of the State Board that the SC State Board of Education does not pay annual dues to to the National School Board Association for their lobbying efforts and has not for several years. If this is still the case, I don’t know. If they don’t – then good for them.

One of the big problems with real education reform, and I not just talking about vouchers or tax credits for parents of homeschoolers and kids who attend private school, are largely tied to the groups in the VSC article. They care less what parents and open minded educators in SC think when it comes to education in SC.

If I’m not mistaken, this is exactly what Student Scholarship Organizations do, and it is a big part of the legislation the school choice crowd is pushing this year.