The Sunday opinion pages of Charleston's Post and Courier http://www.charleston.net/ featured an editorial about growing support among Democratic elected officials in South Carolina for education reform. I cannot think of a position more in line with Democratic Party traditions than public school choice which will help improve the odds that all students have the opportunity to receive a quality education. Giving parents the option of selecting their children's public school is a step in the right direction.
The Post-Courier editorial board writes:
Education's rise to prominence as a political issue over the last two decades inevitably has been accompanied by heated debate over how best to improve public schools. But a welcome consensus, across party lines, is developing in recognition that one indisputable means of making public education better is to give families more educational choices. Many who once were wary of school choice now embrace it, rightly persuaded by its proven, positive results.
Sixth District Rep. James E. Clyburn, majority whip of the U.S. House, hails such gratifying school-choice success at a charter school in Harlem, N.Y., on today's Commentary page. Praising S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex's determination to expand choice in our state, Rep. Clyburn writes: "I believe every parent should be given the right to choose a public school or program for their child that is the best environment for that student."
Rep. Clyburn and Dr. Rex have more in common than a strong belief in public-school choice.
They're both Democrats.
Their party affiliation is significant in light of past resistance by many professional educators, a voting bloc that tends to support Democrats, to the general concept of school choice and its specific elements of charter and magnet schools.
That resistance is receding. Yes, political differences persist on school choice, in our state and across the nation. Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed a school-choice bill passed by the General Assembly, and strongly supported by Dr. Rex, earlier this year, citing its lack of private-school options. There remains substantial opposition, primarily from Democrats, to making private schools part of school-choice initiatives.
But a growing number of political leaders now appear eager to foster educational innovation and parental involvement by vastly broadening choices within the public-school system.
As all South Carolinians should, regardless of their parties or ideologies, they refuse to accept an educational status quo that for far too long has left far too many children in struggling schools that aren't meeting their — and our — needs.
Our state's economic future will be dismal without substantial progress by our public-education system. Providing more choices within that system should be a cause that draws widespread, bipartisan support.
As Rep. Clyburn convincingly writes: "We have the opportunity to be visionary in South Carolina on the issue of public-school choice."
With growing bipartisan backing for educational choice, we have the opportunity to make such a vision a reality.
2 comments:
As a senior in a public high school, I feel to improve education we must make our public schools better, not give parents money to send their child to a private institution! I am from neighboring North Carolina. North Carolina has one of the best public school systems in the country. Why? Because NC Democrats have always made the appropriate amount of money available for public schools.
As a result, Democrats control both houses of the legislature and have control of the governor's mansion. The only people in NC you here dicussing school vouchers are anti-education, Republican Fruitcakes!
School Choice means that public schools become poorer. If a parent decided to send their child to public school they would be doomed to get a bad education.
Finally, I have had many wonderful teachers in school that have been dedicated and loving to their students. Teachers are highly underpaid. Creating school vouchers will put these hard working educators in an even bigger bind.
To improve education improve public schools and teacher pay. Don't put money into crazy vouchers!
The South Carolina Democratic elected officials are talking about choice within the public school system - not vouchers for private schools.
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