There is no evidence that private schools outperform public schools, once students family background is taken into account, or that competition will improve education. Still, many parents find private schools attractive for extra-academic reasons, such as stricter discipline. Moreover, voucher schemes increasingly are promoted as somehow serving the broader public interest. This argument is based on several myths.
Myth: Competition will improve public schools.
Proponents say private school vouchers would break up the public school "monopoly" and force public schools to improve as they compete to attract "customers." No other advanced industrial nation whose students outperform ours has this kind of competition. They know reform is not realized by starving .public schools. Since private schools hand-pick the students they are willing to accept and reject those who don't fit in, the playing field in this competition would be far from level.
Myth: Vouchers will give parents more choice.
Voucher promoters use parental choice as a selling point for private school subsidies. In reality, the choice is up to the private schools. Parents may select a private school for their child, but that doesn't mean the school will accept their child. An arrangement that takes the choice out of private schools' hands may seem ideal. However, voucher proponents never endorse open admissions to private schools: that would destroy what makes private school attractive to many parents.
Myth: Private schools outperform public schools.
There is no evidence that private schools outperform public schools academically, despite considerable advantages enjoyed by private schools, including selective admission policies. Despite the unrestrained willingness of enthusiasts to adopt a voucher system, there are no successful models on which to base this decision.
Myth: Private schools attract customers by offering a better education.
Vouchers create incentives for private schools to attract customers, not necessarily improve achievement. So there is no assurance that what schools would sell - and parents would buy -would be a better education. For example, selling points could be convenience or religious, ethnic, gender, social, cultural or religious homogeneity. Attracting students is not the same as educating them.
No Myth At All: Public Schools Are Important
Public schools are the hallmark of this nation - this democracy. They are exceedingly becoming the last bastion against separatism and exclusion. Public schools are the common thread woven through our history. Helping our public schools to focus on improving student achievement is a much more worthy goal than using public dollars to subsidize private, sectarian business ventures. |
