Trenton, NJ – A bill that would use taxpayer money to send low income students to private, charter or better performing public schools statewide drew a crowd of supporters and opponents so big in Trenton that lawmakers had to move their tables outside to conduct their hearing.
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“It’s an utter disgrace,” shouted one opponent, “We can’t hear anything.”
“Every student is entitled to a thorough and quality education”, remarked a Rabbi from Lakewood who came 800 strong to support school choice.
“I’ve been fighting for my children for years to get quality education” said Danielle Coleman of Newark, who found it absurd that her son was getting straight A’s in first through 5th grade but could not read.
Governor Chris Christie says School Choice scholarships will create competition and put pressure on failing schools to perform.
205 of New Jersey’s public schools are chronically failing in Camden, Trenton, and Newark.
“Where you go to school, where you have hope and ambition to learn should not be subject to how much money your parent’s make.” said Christie.
Opponents argue School Choice scholarships will further dismantle and steal much needed money from the public school system.
“Funding will be taken away from my system. We are already severely underfunded by the governor’s cuts,” said Teacer Irene Gilman of Ocean Township High School.
Families of four earning less than $55,000 annually could apply for the scholarships, the first year it would enable 2,500 to 3,800 to get School Choice programs & funding.
Way to go Christie, close those Public School, there is nothing the private sector cannot do as good.
Let the parent enroll their kid to any qualified private school.
It works in Milwaukee, WI with 25,000 students. Sure, in the beginning there were some bad apple schools. But they’ve been weeded out, and cream schools are rising to the top.
My kids’ “choice school” test results surpassed the public school’s, and they only learn secular studies a few hours a day. And some black schools are doing groundbreaking work for 50% of the cost per student that the public school system spends.
Government sponsored Sha’as and Shulchan Orech.. That should glorify BMG and the rest of Klal Yisroel!
Why is public sponsored health insurance socialism, and public sponsored eduction is not?
Considering the state of the public schools, why not give the private sector a shot?
you dont understand . Privatizing means giving people vouchers in a reasonable tuition amount and let them go to a private school of their choice A private school can do for 7000 what a public school charges 15000 for .
The point many posters are missing and why vouchers and other similar schemes haven’t gained popular support, is that most middle/upper middle class suburban Americans don’t learn about public education from alarmist reports on the worst schools, they know them from themselves and their kids, and they love them.
Its not just that the education is good and comprehensive (and free, albeit paid for out of local taxes) — but public schools are the essential vehicle of the American promise. Suburban public schools are where the American idea is created — integrated, diverse, community connected, bonded by sports and family ties. Its actually very socialist — but for pragmatic Americans its socialism that works so has therefore transmuted into a central element of American life.
Wait a minute! “A quality secular education” in Lakewood? Are you kidding! This has nothing to do with quality secular eucation, but is just a money grab of NJ taxpayer $$$$ (which Lakewood residents probably do not add much to)
I wonder- Did the good Rabbi ask a sheylah if 800 children’s bitul torah was OK before he set out to demonstrate for his $$$ cause in Trenton?