The following editorial first ran Feb. 28, 2013.
One of the sponsors of legislation that would have Alaskans to vote to amend the state constitution to allow public funds to go directly to private or religious schools insists that funding should not be part of the current debate.
If passed by a two-thirds vote in the state House and Senate, the legislation would put a constitutional amendment before Alaska voters to change two parts of the constitution. It would remove language that prohibits public funds being paid directly to private of religious schools. And it would add language the requirement that public money only be spent for a public purpose by stating that requirement would not prevent funds from being used for the “direct educational benefit of students.”
In some respects, we agree with Rep. Wes Keller, a Wasilla Republican. Certainly, a discussion of a school voucher program, which passage of a constitutional amendment would allow, is relevant to the debate.
But before we even get to that discussion, we need to take a step back and understand the profound significance of what is being proposed. The suggestion that the constitution be amended to allow public funds to be allocated to private or religious institutions runs counter to the bedrock principles of American democracy.
Rep. Keller, it seems, should know this — he’s also pushing legislation to require that Alaska public schools teach “American Constitutionalism.”
Providing public funds to private institutions raises numerous legal and ethical questions. How does the public track the way that money is spent? If a private school accepts public money, can it continue to be exclusive in the students it admits? What if a private institution receiving public funds teaches values that run counter to anti-discrimination laws, or teaches a curriculum that does not meet current standards?
Beyond political philosophy and education policy, the proposed constitutional amendment would set up a system that would benefit a small number of Alaskans, arguably to the detriment of the vast majority. That in and of itself should be enough for this legislation to be rejected.
It hardly sounds like government “instituted solely for the good of the people as a whole,” as set forth in the Alaska Constitution’s Declaration of Rights.
Comments (19)
Add commentThe people trying to hide
The people trying to hide behind the constitution only do so when it directly works for them. Obviously or they wouldn't be trying to change it over this issue which is NOT covered by the constitution but in fact expressly against it.
The money would follow the
The money would follow the child, & it would rightly be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to decide what school best suits the needs of their child.
The "Education Industrial Complex" goes into projectile sweat at the very idea of competition, but only because such a badly needed amendment threatens their monopoly.
And then you have the opposition from the leftist control freaks that can not stomach the people being allowed to decide much of any thing on their own. Especially something as important to them as their K-12 left-wing indoctrination racket.
No, it is well past time to put the people back in charge.
Steppenwolf: Monster
The very fact that this is such an issue today points to the sorry state that the public school system has gotten to. Education, having been taken over by the government, has grown into an insatiable beast that sucks up more and more of the people's money and produces fewer and fewer well educated students. And now we have health care following the same path. This multi-headed leviathan will not stop until it devours every aspect of liberty and choice that we have ever enjoyed as Americans. This dragon needs slain.
"America, where are you now? Don't you care about your sons and daughters? Don't you know, we need you now? We can't fight alone against the Monster!"
Religion & ideology
The agenda has nothing to do with educating the next generation of students to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world. Rather, this is about ensuring that they are 100% immersed in a particular right wing political/religious ideology for their entire formative years.
Wouldn't want our precious little ones to accidentally be exposed to any seditious thoughts along the way, y'know. The programming might develop a bug.
And if they happen to be taught that the Earth is 6,000 years old and Eve was made from Adam's rib and dinosaurs just missed Noah's boat, well the world has enough geologists, doctors and biologists anyway. And who needs diplomats since all of these other races are already damned to hell?
I guess the world isn't so complex after all...
Can't Wait
If this ever comes to be I can't wait to se the outrage when the first Islamic school is opened up. Can't limit what religions can get vouchers.
The Christians are
The Christians are coming...the Christians are coming....run for your lives.
Give it a rest, guys. Most of America will take Christian teachings anyday over the social engineering crap that the progressives have been pushing on this country and our kids for a couple of generations now.
We're neck deep in cultural rot and it's not turning out well.
Time to try something "new" or more like time to go back to what used to work.
The separation of church and state argument should not be an issue. Parents are given vouchers and in turn use them on a school of their choice. The government is not endorsing any particular religion.
Vouchers
Calypso, have you lost your mind as usual? In what way would it NOT be a violation of church and state? The public school system is now in dire need of money, and by allowing private schools to get some would further bring down the education in America! There would be NO way too track what the private schools are teaching and how well the students do on required tests. To fund a a school that teaches religion among the other classes IS a violation of the Constitution! If a parent wants their child(children) to go to a private school let them pay for it. In Juneau there is NO private school that goes all the through the 12th grade. Students entering public school do NOT do well as whole in socialization skills and do student going to public schools all their lives
where the real concern
If the sponsors were truly interested in assuring a great education for Alaskan children they would be proposing far more than simply amending the Constitution to allow private school funding. They would be proposing a fully definitive amendment that requires anyone collecting any funding for primary or secondary education to be subject to the same financial reporting and student achievement testing. The would require some level of review by the State Board of Education and the office of the Commissioner of Education.e What I see is a bill that allows the purse to be plucked with no string attached.
Would our legislature allow public school funds to go without any financial responsibility? Absolutely not.
Well bill, "as usual" when
Well bill, "as usual" when someone disagrees with you, you question their sanity. No, I haven't "lost my mind".
The public schools are only in "dire need of money" because too much of their more than adequate funding is ending up in the wrong places, i.e. lavish pension plans and benefits for administrators and teachers and also in real estate.
It makes me so crazy when voters buy into the liberal rhetoric about not enough school funding and never look into the facts of where said funding ends up.
I once posted a whole list of teachers' unions' shenanigans and the politics behind them and it got censored and deleted.
Wake up people to some facts and quit buying all the Democrat talking points. It's killing us, as a nation, in all sorts of areas.
bill - prove this statement of yours - "Students entering public school do NOT do (as) well as (a) whole in socialization skills as (sic) do student(s) going to public schools all their lives."
Private schools ARE held accountable on state and federal levels. Why is everyone so afraid to let the free market work?
Answer this - how come college age students can receive state and/or federal government loans to attend a private, religious college?
What a joke
The GOP seems to never fail to be on the absolute wrong side of history every time. We have established a public school system for taxpayers to send their children to. One system. If you wish to opt out, you do it on your own. Much to the dimay of right-wing Bible-thumpers, there is such a thing as separation of church and state (thank God) which is in place to prevent just this sort of non-sense. You're welcome to believe what you want to believe, but not at the expense of the rest. The Voucher program is madness, and it will gut and destroy the fragile education system we have in play, which, unfortunately, appears to be exactly what proponents are aiming for. Not on my watch right-wingers! It is the height of hypocrisy for these ideologues to expect taxpayer welfare so they can send their kid to some private school. Nice work republicans. Any bets as to if there will even be a credible GOP in 2016? Their tent is about the size of a pup-tent. Kick out the right-wing extremists - there's a start, and just say NO to vouchers and NO to a Constitutional Amendment and NO to the Party of NO.
billyboy
"Students entering public school do NOT do well as whole in socialization skills and do student going to public schools all their lives." Care to try to back that statement up? And don't say, "Studies show..." Without citing some actual bonified peer reviewed sources. Your typical whiney left leaning socialistic rhetoric will not do. I have four children that contradict your asinine supposition 100%. They have been through private school, home school and public school. You, no doubt, have dealt with at least one of them and many more in your day to day life and would judge them as exemparary individuals. Quit talking out of your ass simply because you have no data to make your non- existent point.
@wolf - right back at ya.
@wolf - right back at ya. Project much?
ok, if . . .
religious schools (pick your flavor) recieve tax dollars to operate, then all religious institutions (pick your flavor) must now pay all state and fed taxes like everybody else. NO MOOCHERS ALLOWED!!!
Study this...
...almost ALL school shootings happened in public schools or where public funding was available by someone who was currently, or at one point, enrolled in said school(s). Now, there is a fine example of socially adjusted individuals. Take a poll in the penal institution of your choice and ask them "Public school or private?". In my personal experience, I've observed that students transitioning from private schools to public schools had a much easier time adapting than those that came from public schools to private schools. I cite that the most apparent contributing factors were the levels of academics and discipline. Those transitioning from private to public schools to find it much easier to slack off for a change while public school students entering private schools struggled with the higher standards set by private institutions. Totally the opposite to billyboy's adopted talking point. Note that I indicated my personal observation and call me a liar if you wish. But, a quick Google search will confirm my statement about school shootings. Try it. Surprise yourself!
Vouchers, yes
Colorado, Arizona and other courts have up held them and found them to be legal.
By amending our State Constitution we can do it legally too.
The voucher program is a long time coming. We all know the public, government run, education system is broken. Parents need to be able to choose and alternative school for their children. Why anyone would want to deny a family the ability to choose is beyond me.
And this separation of church and state? The original document read, "State Church". And for some of yous edification, that phrase referred to the Church of England. It's got nothing to do with public money going to religious or private education, charity or anything else religious. The Supreme Court missed it completely on that decision.
I say, if it gets past 2/3 of the House and the Senate then let's vote on it and see just where the people do stand on this one! I am willing to bet it passes handily and becomes law. I'll go even farther and predict that every teachers union along with other unions in Alaska will file suit against it. But in the end we will get them. It is in motion and many of us have been pushing our legislators for some time now and we are not about to give up trying.
Ok I'll bite. If the people
Ok I'll bite. If the people vote to change it, what would you say if the majority of Americans vote to regulate guns?
Exactly. Picking and choosing just makes your points flawed. Try again and try using logic that goes all the way around.
Alaskastu?
Most people, (the majority) and more than likely even most of those who had voted in opposition would suck it up and follow the law of the land.
However, the real question is, do the anti-gun folks really think they can get a majority of the voters in this country to amend the constitution? Unlikely in the first place and frankly highly improbable with an issue as divisive as gun ownership.
Probably not really the 'exactly' you deamed of.......
Public funds for Westboro
Public funds for Westboro Baptist Church, ABT, Jewish and Muslim education. Or is this only for one religion. You can send your kids to any school you want. We should not be expected to use public funds for religion. Religion is yelling for public funds while at the same time yelling public funds should not be available to everybody if it violates their religious practices.
@AKjustice
"Why anyone would want to deny a family the ability to choose is beyond me."
No one denies your right to choose....just pay for it and we are all good. Don't ask the "broken" government to pay for it. If the government (and your employer) won't pay for birth control the why oh why should we pay for your 'choice' of education for your child?
This is a double standard....either the government gives you whiners a handout..(Takers)...or you stand on your own two feet and pay the bills for your choice.
I don't understand why the 'party' of fiscal responsibility wants to pick and choose the government programs they take from....a private education is a right but healthcare is not? What a bunch of hypocrites.