06/03/2002

Private vs. Public vs. Parochial

Q: Do you think that people should have to pay to go to private and parochial schools, or should the government pay for them? Should those who pay tuition have to pay public school taxes? Should religion be taught in the public schools? What are some of the good and bad points about each type of school, and which one is best?

A: Whole books have been written about the issues these questions raise. My comments serve as an invitation to readers to share their thoughts on these complex matters.

Our society is based on choices for its citizens, choices in nearly everything we do. Having such personal choices, is, in my opinion, one of the things that makes this country great. Educational choices make it possible for parents to find the best possible education for each of their children—be it private, public, charter, alternative, parochial or schooling at home. Tax dollars at federal state and local levels support some of those choices; others are funded by churches, individuals and private companies that charge tuition dollars in order to offer their unique or special programs. There are merits to nearly each choice, in my view, because there are so many worthwhile and appropriate ways to educate our young.

Methods of school finance are complicated. I don't know how to make the financing totally equitable. It doesn't seem fair to ask parents who pay tuition to private and parochial schools to also pay taxes to support public schools. Maybe every family should pay into a school fund that would allot a certain amount of money for every child to go to school, whether public, private, parochial or home. But that might lead to reduced choices rather than expanded ones. Our current system of funding doesn't seem fair because some schools have measurably better facilities, equipment and teachers than others—even those that are funded exclusively by tax dollars. That means that some children and families are getting shortchanged educationally through no fault of their own.

We need to find ways to fund public schools that level the playing field for all children, so that each child will have equal educational opportunities. Our courts agree, since our system of financing public schools has been declared unconstitutional in many states. Voucher systems permitting tax dollars to be used in non-public schools are under review in the U.S. Supreme Court.

On the subject of teaching religion in the public schools: religion should only be taught if presented as a survey course about all the major religions—just like a course in world history or geography. If Christianity were the only religion presented, that would be unacceptable. There are dozens of approaches to spiritual and moral teachings, each of which has value, just as different approaches to educating children have value. We are a pluralistic society and the academic curriculum should reflect that pluralism, especially in schools supported by public tax dollars.

The method of payment for an education doesn't necessarily have direct bearing on the quality of that education. I have observed teaching in dozens of different schools—private, public, parochial and home—and have seen good, mediocre and uninspired teaching occur in each setting.

We need to focus reform efforts on improving substandard schools wherever we find them. Too many children enter school at a disadvantage, not because their parents are failing them, but because their schools are failing them. I favor doing all we can to equalize educational opportunities for every child, matching resources with needs on a child by child, family by family basis. Public, profit and non-profit sectors of the economy can all contribute resources, since all have a stake in the outcome, namely to provide a top quality education to every child. In my view, nothing contributes more powerfully to peace and stability in our communities than an enlightened, well-educated citizenry.

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Links:

Religion and prayer in public schools: http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_pray.htm

Private and public financing of schools: http://www.mackinac.org/1117

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Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.