Salt Lake Tribune Commentary

Vouchers would improve education, benefit society

November 4, 2007

By Cindy De Roda

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_7362167

I have been a licensed classroom teacher in a Utah private school for eight years. The thesis I completed for a master of education degree at Westminster College concerned equity in education.
I initially considered the merits of the proposed voucher program, Utah State Referendum 1, from historical and educational philosophy perspectives. During the past months I have also reviewed the issue in the light of personal experience. My conclusion is that every voter should support Referendum 1.

The American public school system was designed as a vehicle for educating the masses in order to provide labor for industry. The privileged were never destined for a public school education. The cost of quality private education ensured the continued dominance of the wealthy and powerful.
Fortunately public schools today do an excellent job of educating all students, and their graduates rise to positions of respect and authority. Still, a private-school education remains beyond the reach of most.

An exception to this paradigm has always been the Catholic school system, which since its inception has been open to students of all religions and backgrounds from poor, immigrant and minority students in the inner cities to middle-class students across the United States.
Tuition rates have continued to rise; yet this year 5,868 students attend Catholic schools in Utah. Some pay a reduced amount based on their economic status.

The cost to fund the voucher program is much less than what it would be to educate the students currently enrolled in private schools if they were to enter and overburden the public school system. Voucher funds would not cover the full cost of tuition, but they would make it easier to manage tuition payments, and in some cases, they might make the critical difference.
My children's education was the most important issue to me when they were of school age, and I chose to send them to Catholic schools. It was a financial struggle to pay their tuition, but I always felt it was worth it.

I didn't drive a new car for years, and there were very few family vacations, but education was our priority. At the same time, I knew it was to my benefit to support the public school system with my tax dollars, because a democracy cannot survive without an educated citizenry.

Just as it was in my interest to support the public school system even though my children did not attend, it is now time for all of us to provide a modicum of financial support to parents who prefer a private school education for their children.

I teach at Juan Diego Catholic High School. The enrollment this year is 770 students, with a faculty of 53 teachers, 74 percent of whom hold advanced degrees, including four with doctorates.
It has been my privilege to teach and affect the lives of students of different racial and economic backgrounds, students without religious affiliation as well Catholic and non-Catholic students, those in accelerated academic programs and those with physical and learning disabilities - students who perform thousands of service hours every year to the larger community as one of the requirements for graduation.

Private school students and their parents have a right to public financial support. The funds provided by the voucher program would help these ordinary families to pursue worthy educational goals. After all, it is their money, too, and nothing provides a greater benefit to our society than money invested in education.
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* CINDY DE RODA is a teacher living in Salt Lake City.