Sample Voucher Opponent Email

Here's a sample of a letter from a voucher opponent that was cc'd to members of the legislature on Friday.

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Mr. [Clark] Waddoups,

The Deseret News article this morning quotes you as saying "This court argument is about vindicating the Utah Constitution and ensuring the integrity of elections in Utah,” I am concerned that you’ve missed the real issue.  I have no doubt that the constitution and elections processes will survive.  I am much more concerned that vouchers, if allowed to become law will NOT accomplish the goals of the general public.  Vouchers will work to stratify our society and openly allow private schools to line their own pockets.  Parents will not choose where their children attend because the schools will have waiting lists and the schools will pick and choose only who they want within their walls. 

The law immediately benefits those parents with children already in private schools, parents that are already willing and able to pay.  Why should they be the benefactors of money they obviously don’t need?

I respectfully disagree with your stand on vouchers and ask that you invest your efforts to take care of the general public instead of a few special interests that already have plenty of money.

The money identified for vouchers should be spent on public education where administration fees are among the lowest in the nation and where there is full accountability for the tax payer’s money.

Sincerely,

[G. R.]
[Address Deleted]
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It is a fairly standard email.  Some are more vitriolic (for those I try to remind myself that my mother was indeed married and that being a city boy, I'm quite unfamiliar with certain technical terms used in ranching and farming).

This letter also identifies several of the fallacies of vouchers and government-run schools, specifically:

1. "Vouchers will work to stratify our society..."
   This ignores the fact that our typical neighborhood schools promote geographic segregation resulting in economic stratification and social segregation.  Many private schools are actually more socially diverse than the public schools and some are more economically diverse.  Vouchers have been shown to reduce this stratification, allowing even low income students to attend school of their choice (and their parents).
2. "Vouchers will... openly allow private schools to line their own pockets."
   Public educators line their pockets everyday.  We call that compensation.  In America we expect fair compensation for our work.  If we don't receive fair compensation, we look for other work or other customers.  Whoever can deliver the educational services the public expects should be compensated for that effort.
3. "Parents will not choose where their children attend because the schools will have waiting lists and the schools will pick and choose only who they want within their walls."
   First, this statement if correct, would be a serious indictment of Utah's public education system since it assumes a major exodus.  I don't believe this to be accurate for the majority of the schools in Utah.  Our schools have significant opportunities for improvement, but they are not an educational wasteland like Washington D.C.  Second, where there is a demand the market will move to fill that demand.  If there are long waiting lists (or the belief that there is significant demand for certain educational services) existing private schools will increase enrollment, new schools will be built, and existing public schools will adjust and adapt to better meet the needs of those shopping for other educational opportunities.
4. "The law immediately benefits those parents with children already in private schools, parents that are already willing and able to pay."
   Students already in private school are ineligible for the new educational scholarships/vouchers.  This new program is only for those students currently enrolled in the public school system.  The program is also needs-based meaning that low-income students recieve a $3000 scholarship, while students from wealthier families receive significantly less (down to $500).
5. "I ... ask that you invest your efforts to take care of the general public instead of a few special interests that already have plenty of money."
   The general public is well served with a strong, diverse array of educational providers that empower every parent in the state to meet the learning needs of their children.  The special interests are the 500,000+ students of the state of Utah who rarely have much money.  (Also, the NEA is not really that special nor of much interest.  Let them go destroy someone else's schools.)
6. "The money identified for vouchers should be spent on public education ... where there is full accountability for the tax payer’s money."
   There is no such thing as full accountability in government!  Full accountability can only exist in the private sector.  A parent can contact with a provider of educational services.  If those contractual obligations are not met then the parent doesn't half to pay.  In the public sector a parent cannot contract for services, nor can parents enforce any specific expectations.  In the private sector good performance is rewarded with more business and increased revenue, whereas in the public sector poor performance is rewarded with less business and more money.  Completely backwards!  Also, any semblance of public sector accountability is slow, limited, and indirect.

Comments

[Mark Steele]

"our typical neighborhood schools promote geographic segregation resulting in economic stratification and social segregation"

It's clear to anyone who has visited more than one school in the Alpine District (for example) that schools are quite different from each other, in part because of administrative personalities and qualifications and the climate they create, but even more so because of the different types of neighborhoods they draw on. The Board tries to balance out resources, but it's clear that schools in affluent neighborhoods end up looking and acting affluent. Timberline JHS comes to mind.