Fair Schooling Choices.....

Here is a pretty balanced article on the recent Supreme Court Decision. And here is a blog post by Julie that wrestles with the decision. Julie asked me what I thought a fair plan would be.

First and foremost I think the choice of the parents should count the most. Students should be allowed to attend their first choice schools as long as there are openings. A way to really do this is to give the money the government 'assigns' each student to the parent to 'spend' how they see fit.

In an article I read recently the author said something like, "We all want safe, reliable sources of food, but we don't want the government running 90% of the restaurants, supermarkets, and farms. The same is should be true for schools, we want safe, reliable schools, but the government should not be in the business of education."

The one thing I have seen is that when parents and students choose their educational instruction they already have a greater investment in that program. Why can't all schools be privatized? Many things we rely on everyday are: food, internet, utilities, mass transit, garbage pick-up, prisions, etc.... These things are necessary for our daily lives and we don't need the government running them. Overseeing maybe, but not running. When people have to make choices and investments they choose more wisely and competition makes schools better.

That competition is one of the best things that has happened to Louisville schools. They had the great idea of putting the magnet schools, the best programs and many of the best teachers in the 'bad neighborhoods', but these excellent schools are going unattended because of skin-color rules. Neighborhood kids who want to attend can't because they are the wrong color and tip the balances. One and a half black kids can come for every white kid whose parents want to put them on a 2 hour bus ride each way. It is not fair to expect the white parent to put their 5-6 yr old on a bus for 4 hours out of their day! To deny the great education to the black child is also criminal.

Many parents are happier keeping their kids closer to home. I think this is be especially true at the elementary and middle school levels. By highschool, kids and parents are willing to travel farther for the specific program they want. Parents who live near the school, who have been allowed to choose the school and who feel invested in the school will be an asset to the school. They will be involved and hand-ons and supportive of the teachers and programs. This benefits everyone.

When the school is far away and the parents feel 'put there', resentment builds up. They don't feel invested in the program or the staff. And they are more likely to see 'the school' as an intrusion into their lives instead of a partner in the educational life of the family. The parents and the kids make 'the school' the scapegoat for everything wrong in their lives.

When schools fill-up hard choices need to be made. Here I think I would be interview the parents and the students to see why this is their first choice school. I would choose the family that matches the program the best and when there was a tie, I would do a random drawing or lottery style approach. I would also try very hard to help the students who didn't get in to find a program that matches their needs instead of just telling them no. If there were enough parents I would help them form another school program like the one that was full.

So, a fair system to me would be one that respected parental choice as much as possible. A system that builds communities and involves extended families in positive ways. And a system that respects the needs of the children.