School vouchers are divisive issue

By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb
Published: Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007 12:02 a.m. MST
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Pignanelli: In modern society, we are confronted with various conflicts of ideology: capitalism vs. socialism, Sunni vs. Shia, Israelis vs. Palestinians, Coke vs. Pepsi. In the Beehive State, such combatants include banks vs. credit unions, conservatives vs. "true" conservatives, Rocky Anderson vs. Jim Matheson, Utes vs. Cougars, Diet Coke vs. Sprite. The argument over proposed subsidies to parents with children in private schools has now vaulted to this honored tier.

I do harbor concerns with a comprehensive voucher/tax credit proposal. Just removing funding from the public system will not effectuate needed changes and will only harm innocent students. Further, Utah has limited private schools and few new institutions are expected in the near future, thereby fostering smaller centers with bizarre curriculum. The results in other states do not hold promise for Utah. (Some friends believe my consternation is a holdover from the stern elementary education I received from the nuns — the bruises are still healing.)

For years this dispute was merely philosophical: Can a free market environment boost education efficiency and quality? The nice disagreements ended when the well-funded voucher advocacy organization Parents for Choice ("PC") entered the 2006 elections in order to garner support on school boards and the Legislature. Moderate Republican and Democratic candidates were targeted for defeat through dozens of attack mailers — which focused on hot issues of taxation, marriage and immigration. The personal nature and ferocity of PC's assault on incumbents entrenched both sides. Public education advocates view this aggression as an insult to their professional competence. Emotions are raw, and potential for negotiation that once existed is dead.

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The strange dynamic is that PC never mentioned vouchers or tax credits for private education in all the literature it prepared for candidates. Voters were never asked to choose a candidate on this basis. Thus elected officials have no clue if vouchers are a big deal for constituents. (In other ideological wars, a public position on "whatever" is the issue.) The various polls on the controversy offer different conclusions. How this vacuum impacts legislative deliberations is generating interest among politicos.

A longtime champion of public education, I endorse increased funding to the most important function of local government. Along with thousands of parents with children in public schools I am a fan and a critic. We know the good teachers and administrators — and want them rewarded for their quality. But vouchers cannot accomplish this. I believe a "third way" to increase accountability and resources must exist. Yet, the divisiveness of the issues prevents successful discussions.

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