I do disagree with the article's opinion that "vouchers pose a serious threat to values that are vital to the health of American democracy". The author states that vouchers would be used to "indoctrinate" children with narrow parochial agendas. Not all private schools are oriented toward a particular religion. He also states that public education is for all students regardless of religious affiliation, academic talents, or the ability to pay a fee. Where do magnet schools fit in to this statement? Public schools like Whitney Young have enrollment based solely on academic talent and therefore is not open to all students. Schools such as Young do not even allow students to apply that do not have a particular stanine on standardized tests. I have taught students that had straight A's but did not score particularly well on the ISAT so were never even given a chance to attend that school. This seems to contradict the statement that public schools are for all students. A voucher might actually help those students attend an academically challenging private school.
He also states that vouchers would allow tax payer money to go to schools run by the KKK and other such extremist groups. I have never heard of a KKK school and I hardly think they would start up a school just because vouchers were available. People that are part of racist or extremist groups teach their own form of hatred at home. I think it's a stretch when he says that Brown vs. Board of Education would be tossed out because the money from vouchers would be used to deliberately segregate schools.
I don't know what the answer is when questioning if vouchers are a good idea, but I do know that many of our inner city and poorest schools are in extreme need of help and something does need to be done for the students attending these schools.
