The idea of “school choice,” which evidently ultimately aims to set the interesting precedent of letting everyone choose where they want their tax dollars to go, has recently been a rising topic of discussion.
Of course, parents in the area have quite a few existing choices on how to educate their children—in addition to their area’s public institution of learning, they can choose to send them to Redeemer Classical Academy, Providence Christian Academy, Middle Tennessee Christian School, Franklin Road Christian School, Lancaster Christian Academy or Bill Rice Christian Academy; they can home school, have their children attend Webb or St. Rose, choose an online learning model, affiliated with the public schools or not, or, if the student qualifies, they can attend an area magnet school.
The Rutherford County Board of Education recently approved an application to open Empower Academy, a “public charter school,” further increasing local choice.
Though it seems many proponents of charter schools, vouchers and “school choice” don’t necessarily want choices, they have choices. They want others to pay for their luxury, or perhaps they are interested in obtaining public money in order to launch a school of their own.
Some parents don’t want their kids going to a standard public school but would rather that taxpayers pay for their children to attend the school of their choice, rather than them having to pay the bill.
“It’s our money!” they say of tax dollars used for education. “We should choose where it goes.”
That’s a new approach.
Maybe we should let criminals select which jail they go to.
I want to select which highway crew works on my road—they’re my tax dollars, after all!
How about launching some charter law enforcement agencies, providing more “choice.” Maybe some want to choose which property assessor’s office looks at their property, or which fire department serves their neighborhood.
The point is, individuals don’t typically get to dictate how public tax dollars are spent once they are collected and allocated. They can get involved, campaign to get representatives elected who want to spend tax dollars a certain way or lower—or raise—taxes.
I would probably choose to spend money collected from other taxpayers on all sorts of things that would benefit me personally, but I don’t seem to have that privilege. This idea that “they’re my tax dollars and I want to choose how to spend them” seems like bizarre logic.
One exception would be if we are talking about food stamps. The recipients of government food stamps get to select the food items they want to use their vouchers on.
So it’s kind of like food stamps, for education.
“Well, that’s welfare! Socialism!”
It’s not welfare or socialism when Republicans propose it, right?
Interesting issue. Choose the best way to educate your children now, without waiting for any further government ruling or financial handout.
Overall, July has been a great month for the Mayos. We made it to Holiday World, hit up a Sounds game, visited Ozone Falls (as you will see later in the August edition) and tried to make the most of the hot summer season.
And the Pulse rolls on! Thanks to everyone for reading, contributing, advertising in, distributing, and paying attention to our community publication, highlighting the people, events and places of our popular community, which is so awesome it keeps on drawing more and more people.
Catch the Pulse and other local businesses along with Blue Raider Athletics at the MTSU Fan Day, an event kicking off football season and the fall semester, on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 21, at the MTSU Floyd Stadium. Should be fun.
