VA, Vouchers Bad; Education, Vouchers Good

Last week, in rejecting Republicans' calls to replace the extremely effective Veterans Administration health care system with vouchers, I wrote: (other times) "subsidizing market choices makes more sense than traditional government-run programs. Like when something is beyond broken - like public schools." Let's take a look at that.

The goal of universal, compulsory education is to nurture every child to his or her fullest potential. It just doesn't have to take place at good ol' James Buchanan High.

We've been doing education pretty much the same way since Horace Mann institutionalized "common schools" in Massachusetts in the 1840s. Here are some other mid-nineteenth century innovations: the McCormick Reaper, metal diving helmets, steam hammers, typewriters, rotary printing presses, airships, the telegraph, linoleum and the Mason jar.

Other than public schools and the Mason jar society has pretty much moved on.

The idea that vouchers will undermine public education is nonsense. Every kid in the state will still be educated, mostly at public expense, just like before. It's not public education that vouchers jeopardize, it's underperforming public schools. Hooray!

A primary case for traditional schools is their role in providing a common socialization for students. But just how much collective experience is shared between kids attending elite Boston Latin School and South Bronx Academy? Shopping malls, gaming, music, TV and social networking long ago replaced schools as the mutual denominator among youngsters.

Some fear giving parents the financial wherewithal to choose their child's school will put public schools out of business. That's an argument public school champions may want to reconsider since essentially they're admitting their schools are so bad parents will be willing to shell out their own money over and above the vouchers and scholarships to avoid them.

Disengaged parents are often the targets of educators' grumbling. I assure you dad and mom are not going to be indifferent when little Ashley and Tyler come home with failing grades after putting actual cash money on the table.

Every school - traditional, private, charter, religious, corporate, virtual - will be on notice, perform or the student, the voucher and the tuition will go to ones that do. Good teachers will remain the center of good education and, contrary to fears, will become more empowered as traditional as well as alternative schools compete for the best talent to attract students.

Of course if tax dollars are allocated to non-traditional schools the state properly will need to evaluate academic performance and audit financial records, and we'll need to guard against those who promote vouchers simply as a cover to decimate education funding.

Vouchers are not the magic cure-all for our educational woes but they're sure a better deal for parents and students than what they're getting now.