abbott districts ruling (Newark, Paterson, Camden: school district, voucher, gated community)

[JERSEY MAN]

By the time a statewide or countywide school system is implemented many of us will be dead and buried.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

I don't think there's a problem with having a state-wide school system- in fact I'd be for it. Here in GA we have county-wide districts, which are far more cost effective than having districts at the town level. Within each county there are still high-performing schools and low-performing schools, which would happen in a state-wide program as well, and- surprise, surprise- the low-performing schools still tend to be in the lower income areas of the county.

So, implementing a state-wide or county-wide program won't level the playing field for all students in the state/county (I doubt that could ever happen, unfortunately), but it would at least reduce the tax burden for all involved by reducing the overall cost of providing education. Paying a superintendent $150k/year in a one-town school district that has 500 kids is moronic, yet it happens in dozens of NJ towns.....

Agree with you on that Bob. Most schools in the South if not state run are county run

and until people get the bolded part are taxes wil continue to rise and rise

[elflord1973]

Originally Posted by Dingo99

agreed. it would not be fair.

I would not want the trash from the citys of NJ to be able to go to my kids schools. People buy houses in decent areas because they want their kids not to go to school with gangbangers

If there were vouchers, private schools would be able to compete with public schools (which is why some lobbies don't like vouchers)

If these kids from the cities were "trash" or "gangbangers", the private schools would be free to throw them out.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by elflord1973

If there were vouchers, private schools would be able to compete with public schools (which is why some lobbies don't like vouchers)

If these kids from the cities were "trash" or "gangbangers", the private schools would be free to throw them out.

But how would that work?? Somebody paying $10K for their kid to say go to Pope John high school and then you get some kid from Dover going there on a voucher or would the voucher system lower tuition rates for those paying

[MPBsr]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

By the time a statewide or countywide school system is implemented many of us will be dead and buried.

We might be dead, but not buried. Can't afford it.

[elflord1973]

Originally Posted by njkate

But how would that work?? Somebody paying $10K for their kid to say go to Pope John high school

only if 10k is the balance after the voucher is exhausted

and then you get some kid from Dover going there on a voucher or

The kid from dover would also pay the remaining balance ( fee - voucher redemption value )

would the voucher system lower tuition rates for those paying

yes.

It would do so in two ways.

First, is the direct and obvious way (your existing bill is offset by a voucher)

Second, as it would allow private schools to compete with public schools, it would create a market for low cost private schools. Such a market exists today, but it's mostly in Catholic schools (which are for the most part much cheaper per pupil than public schools). The secular private schools, however, tend to cater to the wealthy -- because you need to be wealthy to pay for school three times -- once for the kid in Newark, once for the kid who goes to a public school in your town, and then again for private school tuition.

[RobRiguez]

The only way I can see a voucher system working for private schools would be if everyone is given a voucher of the same value, lets say $10k. If the tuition of a private school is $15k, the parent of the child would then only have to shill out $5k to make up the difference.

Or, does the voucher go towards offsetting property taxes and not to the schools? How would that affect renters Vs Homeowners Vs people with no children or adult children no longer in the school system?

If it goes to the school and someone from Newark wants to trek all the way down near me in Edison (at their own expense) every morning, more power to them. I say they should be allowed to do so. I would not be ok to provide school buses for the trip. Not only would it be cost prohibitive, the traffic would just make things worse on the roads.

[gradstudent77]

I like the policy. It's short-term implications probably send shivers up parents' spines, but it'd be great for the state, economically, socially, and culturally, in the long run. Alas, it is highly unlikely that we would ever see something like this actually happen.

[JG183]

Originally Posted by Lusitan

Funny thing is, this is what all of the "progressives" sitting in their liberal, lilly-white towns really think deep down inside.

Bret Schundler, the most conservative this side of Lonegan, was all for school vouchers.

[Dingo99]

Originally Posted by RobRiguez

The only way I can see a voucher system working for private schools would be if everyone is given a voucher of the same value, lets say $10k. If the tuition of a private school is $15k, the parent of the child would then only have to shill out $5k to make up the difference.

Or, does the voucher go towards offsetting property taxes and not to the schools? How would that affect renters Vs Homeowners Vs people with no children or adult children no longer in the school system?

If it goes to the school and someone from Newark wants to trek all the way down near me in Edison (at their own expense) every morning, more power to them. I say they should be allowed to do so. I would not be ok to provide school buses for the trip. Not only would it be cost prohibitive, the traffic would just make things worse on the roads.

It costs less for private schools to put a kid through school then a public school. So the town/school district would be saving money.

Thats why I dont understand the opposition to school vouchers. the only one i can see being opposed are teachers unions