An effort to amend the Alaska Constitution to allow public money to go to religious schools stalled in the House of Representatives Monday, as supporters acknowledged they didn’t have enough support to pass it.
The House had been scheduled to vote on House Joint Resolution 16, but the measure was pulled from the calendar just before the scheduled vote.
“We didn’t have the votes to pass it,” said Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, the resolution’s chief sponsor.
The measure would ask the public to amend the Constitution to allow for publicly funded vouchers for private schools, including religious schools, something now explicitly prohibited.
Constitutional amendments require a supermajority of 27 votes in the House to pass and be sent to the voters.
Keller’s proposal may have suffered a blow earlier Monday, when House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Kenai, said he had “concerns” with it, though he didn’t say he’d oppose it.
Among the issues Chenault raised were whether some schools would be left with handicapped and other expensive-to-educate students, and whether there would be fairness in options available to students.
Most Democrats, and some Republicans, have already said they’d oppose it, often citing an unwillingness to take money away from public schools.
“In a year when funding is critical for public schools, it is especially frustrating to see this proposal,” said Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau.
Chenault told reporters Monday morning, just hours before the scheduled vote, that he had concerns about how such a measure might be implemented and whether it would be fair to all students.
If a child was able to take a voucher to any school and was admitted to any school regardless of what conditions or issues they may bring, being handicapped or other issues, I could probably support that,” he said.
Chenault said he was worried those students would all wind up on the one school system that has to accept them, the public school system.
Public funding for religious schools will blur the line between religion and government, said Kerttula, and that line should be kept clear, she said.
“That separation of powers line is much better kept distinct, and that’s why I’m going to vote against it,” Kerttula said.
Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, said funding concerns were the reason for her worries about the measure as well.
“I do have concerns over public education and what happens when we start pulling away public funds to our public schools,” Muñoz said at a press conference recently, with Keller also in attendance.
Other Southeast representatives were split on the measure, with Muñoz and Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell expressing opposition, while Reps. Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, and Bill Thomas, R-Haines, both voicing support.
Keller said he would continue to lobby his fellow representatives, and hoped to bring the bill back for a vote.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and we need to work on that,” he said.
One misconception is that passage of his proposal would automatically take money from public schools if it were to be approved by voters, he said.
Changing the Constitution would only allow the Legislature, in the future, to offer some type of funding for private or religious schools, he said. The specifics would be up to future legislators to decide.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or at patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
Comments (31)
Add commentGood
Thank you Beth and Cathy.
Separation of State and Superstition
It's not that difficult.
Mike
in a word
Unions
No!
@islandhopper --- I get so tired of people who villainize unions. This is NOT the work of unions. Yes, most union members - teachers, policemen, firemen, electricians, etc. - are probably against this. But it is NOT because of money or entitlement.
It is because most WORKING CLASS people believe that one of the things that makes America great is getting a free, quality public education. I believe that vouchers will crumble our educational system.
That means that vouchers have the potential to crumble our nation. I am not prone to exaggeration -- and I can't think of many things that could possibly hurt our country more than giving government money to non-public schools.
If parents want to send their children to private schools, let them. They are welcome to use their individual liberty to do so. We must keep government OUT of the private school industry. We have enough on our plates trying to fix our current public system. Adding another layer to our education struggle is NOT going to help America.
People should think about their nation and not just themselves. True patriots will help improve and foster education, not tear it apart like scavengers at a wounded carcass.
Way to keep it classy, Mike.
Way to keep it classy, Mike. It's not an issue of seperating government and religion. If I decide to send my child to a private school, or another school outside of the district's boundary lines, why shouldn't my tax money go to where my child is going? And if I decide to send my child to a private school, why should I have to contribute tax dollars to a system that so many believe isn't working?
@Mike
now you see, we CAN agree on some things (...heretic).
@akbrdguru
Because "your" tax money isn't for "your" child...that means childless people shouldn't have to pay for the small portion of their taxes that goes toward education?
That means since I don't bike that I can exclude myself from paying the taxes that maintain bike paths?
Come on, that's a weak argument.
Public education for all. This is America. If you don't want to send your child to public school, send him somewhere else --- this is a free country. But our government provides the system of education that the government supports.
@fisherwoman
I like your shrewd instincts - edgy, but effective. The exclusiveness of church and state is not just to keep the church out of the public coffers; it also keeps the state out of the church's knickers. This is the right call by the legislature because, as Rep Keller points out, changing the Constitution is a short-sighted fix, and as Rep Kerttula mentions, it blurs the line. A few vouchers here and there arent going to break the bank, but it sets an uncomfortable precedence for tuition assistance, govt oversight, etc.
Thank you "fisherwomen44" for
Thank you "fisherwomen44" for your comments, I could not agree more! Paul DeSloover
My issue is that I am not
My issue is that I am not getting my money's worth. I am paying taxes for it to go to a broken system that has no hope of ever not being broken. If I choose to send my kid to a functional school, I have to pay more. Perhaps the best thing to do is to start gutting the bloated pig that is public school by sending the money to the schools that work. Not all public schools are junk. Not all private schools are great. Let the end user decide what works and what doesnt. Currently we have 'crats deciding what works best. Govt is only going to make schools worse. They have no idea how to downsize and improve quality. One would think that would be obvious...
And here I thought schooling
And here I thought schooling was about educating kids and producing a myriad of intangible benefits for them.
My mistake--I see now that it's really about making and saving money.
kpawsuh - wrong focus
Kpawsuh - I think you have the wrong focus. I think 85-90% of what is "wrong" with schools could be fixed if PARENTS actually PARENTED. How about we get on all parents who:
- Send their child to school without any socialization or manners or respect for others.
- Send their kindergarteners to school without knowing even one letter or number or color, let alone how to hold a book.
- Send their child to school in dirty (maybe even peed in) clothing, or without feeding them in the morning or providing lunch for them
- Allow and even encourage their children to bully other kids
- Don't know or care where their kids are after school.
- Don't ask their kids about homework or have a time and a place set up for homework.
- Don't show up for teacher conferences or care if their child is failing.
- Don't have a bedtime for kids, allowing them to stay up too late, and don't make sure they get to school in the morning.
This and much worse is what kids who come to school every day are grounded in at home.
Imagine how much easier it would be for ALL kids to learn if ALL kids were polite and well-mannered. If ALL kids were well fed and got a good night's sleep. If ALL parents were responsible and showed by example that they care about education.
Honestly, I think the parents are the biggest issue in public school right now.
nope
Pp its about fixing a broken system. Tenure is the main culprit, I'm of the mindset most teachers are great. However those that aren't are immune from the consequences of their actions. Fisher you make a good argument but I think we had a much better school system before Jimmy formally federalized it
Yeah. That's right. Tenure is
Yeah. That's right. Tenure is the main culprit. Tenure, which allows teachers to grade students fairly (how long do you think a teacher who flunks the superintendent's child is going to work at that school?), which allows them to teach students how they best see fit, which allows them a modicum of job security, and doesn't prevent them from being fired for misconduct.
Yes, tenure is to blame all right. And you know what? Using this brilliant logic, I think Snickers bars are to blame for diabetes. And winter is to blame for tongues frozen to metal poles. And judging from the comments here, the internet is responsible for stupidity.
SG-- On Fire
right on
Right on, Swimmergirl!
I couldn't agree with you more, Swimmer.
And for all of the parents who are struggling to manage their workloads, their homelife, and the education of their children, please note the things on Swimmer's list aren't easy - but they can be done. It takes work, advanced planning, and consistency, and those things are hard, especially if you weren't raised the the manner in which Swimmer describes, or if you are a single parent without a support system, or if (like many of us) your kids have gotten away with far too much for far too long and now fight you every step of the way.
Keep fighting the good fight! You can do it!
Tenure
Hello! I'm a teacher. Let me tell you this: good teachers are SICK AND TIRED of bad teachers making us all look bad.
Tenure is NOT a guaranteed job. Tenured teachers CAN be fired. They CAN! But for some reason they aren't. And I blame administrators.
All it takes to get rid of a bad teacher is a dedicated administration who will get their paperwork in order, document the teacher, and get it done. Yes, it may take a few years, because teachers are only formally evaluated twice a year. We all know that there are a few teachers in the JSD who are regularly avoided by parents "in the know." In fact, as parents who are teachers, WE make sure our own kids don't get those teachers. But the principals are not helping them improve. There is a very clear way to get a tenured teacher to improve or be let go. A few years ago, the teacher's union offered to help train the administration on how to effect change and improvement in a poor teacher, and assist them in weeding out the few who will refuse to improve. But they said no.
Why?
Loving the comments about
Loving the comments about actual problems and even suggestions to fix said problems
Props SG
You know the difference between public schools and private ones? Funding, one gets it and the other doesn't. And also in private schools if a parent or child is just too much of a pain, gone. Don't even try and compare these two completely separate institutions for learning.
Swimmergirl, how is funding
Swimmergirl, how is funding the school or not going to fix any of those? Those are important and are great, but they are apples to oranges in this discussion. JSD is a prime example. We have over 50% of the JSD as overpaid admin. They are not going to fix the problem, that they are commandeering the funds that should be going towards educating the children. In fact, they would most likely hire a team to look into why the children are failing and their results would not come anywhere near the true causes, either funding or your list. They will likely come up with an idea of restructuring the hours, cut class times , start school later, and get a new unproven curriculum from the past JSD president who retired and needs money. I chose to avoid the question entirely and have homeschooled. That also doesnt fix the problem, but I at least can assure that my child is educated, even though my taxes still go to slop the bloated JSD.
kpawsuh - point taken.
Funding or not funding a school fully is not going to make parents step up. I don't know why we in this country have this fear of calling the parents out when they are not accountable. When people talk about "failing" schools, they are typically talking about testing results. Clearly, if all children showed up with manners and ready to learn, test results overall would be a lot higher. I think this shows that most of the teachers we have ARE good teachers and doing the best they can with classes that are too big, and too full of unruly or 'problem' children. I am with you on the administration. Yes, larger districts need a certain amount of administration. I haven't seen the actual numbers, and I would be surprised if it really is 50% (did you make that number up?) but less admin and smaller class sizes is clearly better.
Where I get bent is when people make generalizations about private or charter schools being 'better' than public schools.
It's apples/oranges - Private schools don't have to take all students. Private schools can set class sizes and turn extra kids away. Private schools automatically assume a certain level of involvement from parents, and can require more if they want to. Private schools don't test using the same measures and in the same, unilateral way as public schools. Thank you for admitting that there are some not great private schools out there. I'm sure you were a decent home school 'teacher' - but I've got to say, I've seen some really, really bad ones as well, everything from parents who couldn't spell or punctuate themselves; to parents who essentially did the work for their kids.
I agree with SG and Alaskastu
Swimmergirl is correct. I frequently see children who are the product of a home environment that is clearly not dedicated to academics.
We often slam our schools by comparing our country's education to Japan or Norway or some other enviable place where they "know how to teach." But let's face it -- in Japan they don't have to provide free breakfast and lunch at school because slacker parents can't even properly care for their children.
And for those that say the government is providing handouts in this respect, that is true.
But shall we punish children because they were born into a home where the parents make poor choices?
In keeping with the article, I also agree with Alaskastu. The difference in public and private schools is TREMENDOUS. A private school can opt out of serving children with disabilities. It can kick out students with behavior problems. You're right - it's apples and oranges
Swimmer, go to the JSD
Swimmer, go to the JSD website. Its about 50%
50%..... Let's start there.
50%..... Let's start there.
Where is this 50% coming
Where is this 50% coming from? Are we talking about 50% of the budget, or 50% of the workforce?..
If parents want other than public schools for their kids
they can get off their rear ends and pay for it. I am so sick of all these voucher grabs so parents don't have to waste their own money on their personal choices for their children.
Don't want to waste your cash on food for your kids? Go WiC and food stamps. You'll get a free ride on it too. Child healthcare might stop you from getting a new boat or truck? Denali Kid Care or medicaid and taxpayers will care for your children so you don't have to bother.
I'm 100% for improving public schools and getting rid of teacher unions that fight for everything but effective education but giving more handouts is NOT going to accomplish either.
fisherwoman44, In Japan there
fisherwoman44,
In Japan there is a mandatory school lunch program through the 9th grade. Even teachers are obligated to eat the same lunches as the kids.
fisherwoman44, Aside from
fisherwoman44,
Aside from that, I pretty much agree with you.
Also in Japan...
They go to school longer, and teachers are paid for dedicated time when kids are not in class - for lesson planning, grading papers, contacting parents, etc.
kpawsuh - wow.
If it's that high, then that is a problem. Teachers should be the bulk of the budget.