When I first heard about the Utah Legislature’s proposal to tie school vouchers to teacher pay increases, I was incensed. Our teachers are among the hardest working in the nation. Facing low wages and some of the largest classrooms in the country, they deserve better. My sons’ middle school averages about 40 students per class.
I was concerned about what appears to be a money grab by the rich once again. Parents sending their students to private school can already cover the costs; they don’t need an extra handout from the state. Also, our most vulnerable populations typically don’t live near private schools where they could use the voucher, nor is it bound to cover all expenses.
But, I’ve had a change of heart. You see, I have four children in the public school system, which is equal to $32,000 in vouchers. And, as it turns out, homeschooled students are also eligible for the voucher program. My sister in law, living in Maryland, homeschools her four children at a cost of $1,000 a year. That leaves me over $30,000 to spend on “education” for my children.
Since my children are in the French immersion program, it seems fit to spend part of the year studying in the south of France. Greek and Roman mythology? A trip to Athens and Rome is in order.
Parents taking advantage of the system is a cost we are going to have to accept. Want to homeschool your children in white nationalism? Here’s $8,000 to join a Nazi homeschooling network! Families struggling to make ends meet? Keep your kids home from school, and you’ll have no trouble making rent and buying groceries.
And while this program will take millions from our public education system, I’ll be just fine. I’ll even send you a postcard from Greece.
Andria McQueen, Draper
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/vzxnhyH
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