Why I'll Be Voting Against Referendum 1
To my 7 readers from Utah:
2007 has been a banner year for education in Utah's political landscape: Increased funding for educational technology, a possible three-way Jordan School District split, and the upcoming unprecedented attempt to incorporate government-sponsored vouchers to fund private schooling. This issue of vouchers, currently being referred to as Referendum 1 (here and also here, see page 4), will be decided in three weeks when Utahns will vote on one of the most debated, polarizing issues in state history. As I've been asked by several people "why referendum 1 is so bad", I'll give you my take now.
- While never guaranteed to be great, private school can be great... for those that can afford it.
- Most Utahns can't afford private school - even with the funding that vouchers would provide.
- Hence, Referendum 1 would be a way to reward the people that already utilize private schools and not really a way to recruit new students.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.Furthermore, I believe (like many of the educators that served to shape our nation's educational system):
- Education is one of those unalienable rights to which all men (and women) are entitled.
- Neither liberty nor the pursuit of happiness can truly be obtained without an education.
In closing, I think there are many questions that all people need to answer for themselves:
- How do you feel about public funding for private schools?
- Have you studied the issues yourself?
- Do you think that every child has a right to a quality education?
