Keri Knutson — Public school parent, former educator
I’m still processing Monday’s Public Schools Week Capitol Day, especially after somehow agreeing to a TV interview. Eek. I’m a public school parent of three and a former teacher, so celebrating Public Schools Week is especially important to me.
It was really nice to have conversations with legislators at the Capitol about what needs to be done in education and how we can do it. Outside-the-box thinking is required, especially since taxes are so low here in Oklahoma. We specifically discussed a couple of voucher proposals our lawmakers are considering. For those who don’t understand why these bills are problematic, let me explain.
With proposed legislation, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs or vouchers) would send a student’s state aid funding directly to a family to use for whatever educational expenses they wish just as long as their child doesn’t attend public school. The amount of funding would only cover a teeny tiny portion of private school tuition anyway, so most people still can’t afford private school with this money. “They” say it’s so parents can have a choice, but decades of research tells us that people want and love their neighborhood schools and that those who could REALLY benefit from a voucher either can’t or don’t use them.
To have “your” money to use for your kids’ education sounds great, but it’s not a viable answer, for many reasons. For one, your tax money is for the benefit of the society in which we all live. Public school is a service, much like parks and roads. It serves the greater good, not your own personal interests. If you would like your children to attend a religious school or you’d like to homeschool them, that is great! That is your right as a parent, and you may make that choice for your family. You may not, however, make that choice for other families.
Private schools don’t have to take everyone, they don’t provide transportation or free meals, nor do they have to provide special or extra services. So if your child has a 504 or an IEP, the only school required to help them is the public one. Public schools are also the only schools required to hire certified teachers, those who are educated in child development and pedagogy, have hundreds of clinical hours of experience in classrooms, and have passed certification tests.
Despite negative discourse surrounding public schools, they are not a “fall back” for families who cannot afford private school. They are actually a deliberate CHOICE by many families who value the diversity, experiences, and opportunities at a public school.
Are there things we need to fix? Absolutely! (I could do a whole post on just that!) Taking money away from public schools by sending it to private schools through vouchers is not going to help. Instead of solving the problems, this program will only make them worse. This is especially detrimental to rural school districts, of which we have many. For those who say “but we already put so much of our budget into education,” I will remind you that we are 48th in the country when it comes to funding education. States in the U.S. spend anywhere from about $26K to $7K per pupil per year; Oklahoma spends around $8K. Even when you consider cost of living in each state, that is still abysmally low. With very little money or respect, we are requiring teachers to do it ALL and then some, and they’re exiting in droves. Among other things, teachers need fewer mandates, more appreciation for their talent and knowledge, and more counselors, nurses, and assistants in their buildings. Side-stepping the issues by providing less money will do the opposite.
Also, this rhetoric of “failing” schools has got to stop. There are AMAZING things happening in our public schools! Why isn’t that highlighted in the media and by our lawmakers?
If we want people to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” we need to start them off on the right foot. Public schools should be the BEST place for EVERY child. Let’s work on making that happen.
Keri Knutson
Adjunct Professor
College of Education & Professional Studies, University of Central Oklahoma
PhD candidate, Swansea@UCO program, Swansea University, Wales
School spending data by state: https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statistics