Jackson Free Press

AP is reporting that national Republicans are about to make a push for vouchers: "Republican Senate leaders plan to force a vote this week on the nation's first federally funded school voucher experiment, tucking the program into broader spending legislation that would be politically difficult for Democrats to block.
The Senate proposal would allow a number of poor children in the District of Columbia, perhaps 1,700 or more of the 65,000 in the capital's school system, to attend private school at public expense. Democrats stopped action on the bill early this year."

Previous Comments

ID

136484

Comment

Haley Barbour said today that there is no money for Early Childhood Education in Mississippi. The Clarion-Ledger is reporting: "The Gov.-elect Haley Barbour told school board members from across Mississippi today that funding of early childhood education is not likely to be a reality. 'Let's face it. In the short term, Mississippi's not going to have money for prekindergarten,' he said to about 225 school board members gathered for an annual conference at the Hilton in Jackson. 'The fact of the matter is, the real serious question is, whether we've got enough money for what we're doing now.'" He wouldn't mean Adequate Education funding, right?

Author

ladd

Date

2003-11-18T19:53:16-06:00

ID

136485

Comment

I wonder if Fielding would still claim that Barbour will do good things for public education?

Author

Nia

Date

2003-11-18T20:43:57-06:00

ID

136486

Comment

Let's see what gets fully funded, and see what gets cut, before we get too critical. There's just no money anywhere right now. If he cuts education to fund some other jackass program, then we can pile on. (Yes, I'm trying to be very hopeful that he is not what he appeared to be in his campaign. Who knows, maybe being governor of a cash strapped state like MS will turn him into a lobbyist for education!)

Author

Kate

Date

2003-11-18T20:49:45-06:00

ID

136487

Comment

Now if Barbour became a lobbyist for education, even I might jump on his bandwagon. Well, okay, never, but I'd stop bashing him! :-)

Author

Nia

Date

2003-11-18T21:37:09-06:00

ID

136488

Comment

Pardon my skepticism, but I would suggest that the writing is on the blackboard. Consider for a moment Barbour's notion that better-performing districts (meaning well-to-do white, suburban ones in most cases) don't have to do as much paperwork. The paperwork and mandate requirements are part of what is getting in the way of teaching! It's all a backward reward system that isn't designed to give the most help to the districts that need it the most. They're punished for being disadvantaged. Likewise with giving more funding to districts that do best on tests. What planet are we on here? Public education shouldn't be about rewards! It starts to sound suspiciously like the rug is being purposefully pulled out from under the districts that are in the most trouble. Remember, if enough schools crack under the weight of these requirements, the argument for closing them and for starting a voucher program, and thus redirecting tax money into private schools, is going to look stronger. The Sun-Herald reports today: "Gov.-elect Haley Barbour told school board members from across the state Tuesday that there's more to education than kindergarten through 12th grade and he wants to restore funding cuts to universities and community colleges. He also said while many children need better preschool preparation, a tight budget will short-circuit hopes of any new state offerings."

Author

ladd

Date

2003-11-19T13:33:00-06:00