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closeVouchers could improve quality of education
Jim Watkins and his dog, Mojo, fulminate in the Aug. 7 Herald against school vouchers with the usual false arguments that this will destroy the public school system. The way I see it, vouchers give parents and children an alternative to public schools they are free to use or not to use as they wish. All of the systems I have read about require the parents to pay extra if their children attend voucher schools, so, if they opt for this, they must think this provides their children a better education. Improved education at no additional cost to the taxpayers seems like a win-win situation to me. But what do I know?
I'm only a human, not a dog.
The argument that a voucher system will reduce funding for public schools is a red (or possibly a green) herring. Of course it will.
But the public schools will have fewer students if some opt for vouchers and will have more money per student because the amount taken away for vouchers is less than the current funding per student.
In the few places where a true voucher program has been tried, public schools have often reacted to the competition by lowering their costs and improving their students' test scores. The hysterical opposition to voucher programs has been orchestrated by those who fear for their jobs and their fiefdoms: Teachers and school administrator unions.
Arch Wakefield
Vice chairman
York County Libertarian Party
Tega Cay
Scout makes good points
I would like to comment on the opinion voiced by the young man Tyler Garnett about the city plans to do a $6 million makeover of Manchester Village. He wrote the article because he needed to write a letter to someone in the news as a requirement for the Communications Merit Badge to acquire his Eagle Scout rank.
His comments regarding the cosmetic improvements were straight to the point. Why would we plant trees and "scrubs" (a straggly, stunted tree or shrub) during the middle of a drought? Who really believes that a "makeover" will entice more customers? Where is the marketing data and common sense that supports this?
I believe we should appoint Tyler Garnett as a consultant to the planning committee to ensure these types of proposals go through a sanity check. He, as a fledging Eagle Scout, has more insight than many adults in the community. Thank you, Tyler, for your forthright reality check.
Steve DeGange
Eagle Scout, 1967
Rock Hill
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