The Importance of School Vouchers - Essay Example

School Vouchers The educational system can be considered as one of the most important aspects that should be given attention by the society. This can be attributed to the fact that the education of the people can contribute to the success and the failure of a nation. It the perception of the role that the educational system hold, it is important to be able to determine the important issues that can affect the said system and institution. The school vouchers can be considered as one of the vital and current issues that are being studied in relation to the modernization of the educational system in the United States, thus, presentation of the importance of school voucher system is a must. Aside from being an educational issue, the school voucher system can be classified on the basis of different aspects, which can also strengthen the need to be able to utilize such a system. Due to the multifaceted effect of the said system it is important to consider the advantages of the system over the disadvantages (Walberg, and Wang 2-15). When it comes to the study of the issues regarding the voucher system for schools, there are the two sides. The side that affirm the importance of the used of the school vouchers and the side that questions the feasibility of the propositions and policies are vital to the study of the school voucher system (Kupermintz 2). The main objective of the study if to present the importance of the application of school voucher system. To be able to determine the importance of school voucher system, views on the different aspects are required. Based on the study of the different issues related to the system, there are different points that can be given attention. These points include the educational aspect itself, social aspect, and political aspect. It is important to give attention to these issues to be able to realize the vitality of the voucher system. The primary evidence of the importance and applicability of the school voucher is in relation to the access in education. The establishment of the school voucher system can be considered as one project to be alt to increase access of the people to education. This can be attributed to the fact that students with less resource will be able to study even in private schools. Although there are different contradictions and criticism regarding the issue, it is important to consider that the main objective is to be able to provide access to education. The subsequent evidence in support of the school voucher system is the aim of the proponents of the establishment of the system to target the improvement in terms of educating the population. Generally the view of the group that opposes the system is the fact that optimization of the resources if not guaranteed and that the possible loss in terms of fund can be put to the improvement of the public schools which are considered to require more form the government to be able to improve. This can be considered to be affected by the school vouchers due to the fact that in most cases these privileges are also from the government and government officials. Although there is an important point being presented by the groups that question the feasibility of the school vouchers it is important to consider the different advantages that are related to the system. It can be considered as an optimistic action to be able to alleviate a larger portion of the population from illiteracy. It can be considered as a bold action to be able to pursue the advocacy for school voucher due to the fact that it is opt to be questioned by different groups. The advocacy for the continuance of the school voucher system is important for the people who have the capability to avail the requirements and the privileges of the provision system due to the fact that the people being helped can make the difference. When it comes to the different aspects that can be discerned by the groups and institutions in the society that are against the continuation of the provision of school vouchers, it is important to consider the different points that are presented. One example is the outlook of the National Education Association which considers the importance of education for all. The main goal of the NEA is to be able to provide improvement of the educational system through the enhancement and upgrading of the public school system. Based on the said goal, one of the projects of the said organization and the groups that take their side in terms of the issue is the focus on the public school systems that can be considered to increase the access of the many to education compared to the voucher system. Though the said point of view can be considered essential to be able to help the public more, every citizen, group and organization is entitle to provide and practice any form of action to be able to help the people (Kupermintz 3-5). Before the contradictions that are being presented by the groups against the school voucher system are considered, it is important to be vigilant about the resolutions that are presented by the different groups in the society. Although this is the case, it is also important to consider the different notions and the possibilities that are being presented by the pertinent groups in the society. In terms of the educational aspect, certain points are presented against the proposition of the voucher system. One of these points is the fact that student achievement can be considered to fall secondary to other factors in the school voucher system. It is important to perceive educational quality to be the primary target of the authority and not condemning a process that presents order of given a chance to be utilized. In terms of the said point, it is important to consider that although certain students might have better access compared to others, the decision regarding the schools voucher is still based on the results of the entrance exam. This is important due to the fact that one of the reasons for the contradictions regarding the system of school vouchers is the fact that there is miscommunication in the fact that people perceived that once given a school voucher, the students can be given access to any educational system even private schools. In reality, the students are needed to be able to pass the exam to be able to study. For that matter it is essential to present the fact that voucher system is only capable of providing waiver for the qualified students and not to impose to the schools the privileged students regardless of the fact that they can qualify and pass the standard of the target school. This is the most vital concept on the basis of the agreement of the system of school vouchers. Appreciation of the state of the issue on school voucher in terms of the movement carried out by connected people. It is when another educational issue is discussed which is in argument against the school voucher system such as the fact that the system requires double standards in terms of the private and the public systems. This can be attributed to the fact that the private schools commonly and in mandatory require the passing of examinations and the accomplishments of different requirements. This can be considered as a gauge to be able to measure the capability of the students. This is considered negative to some but can be an important point for the school voucher system due to the fact that it has the capability to motivate. What is only lacking is the information dissemination regarding the need for the student to adhere to the standards of the schools that they wish to be admitted. The social aspect is another important issue that is composed of different points presented against the application of the school voucher system such as that of the Milwaukee, Cleveland and Florida. The social issues are related to the fact that the school voucher system can insinuate the inequality issues in a community. In this case the main role of the system to be able to provide for the education of the low-income students can never be undertaken. In this argument, the application of the voucher system cannot be totally dismissed. This can just decrease the feasibility of the system. It is important to consider though that every argument that can be presented can be argued on (Mead 2-4; Salisbury 2; United States General Accounting Office 2-5). For that reason, improvement of the system has a high potential of being able to alter the perception of the groups that criticize the system and increase the feasibility of application. One of the important ways to be able to divert racial, ethnic, and religious stratification is through the intellectual precept. When it comes to the application of the school voucher system an important development is the control and guidelines to be able to avoid the issues presented and contradicted by the critics of the school vouchers. The voucher system can be considered as an issue between the private and the private system due to the fact that the public schools can be considered to have lower standards compared to that of the public schools. In terms of the legal aspect, another argument is with regards to the fact that private schools are commonly religious, thus, can again cause the perception of inequality on the basis of promoting certain religious practices due to the fact that it can be supported by the school vouchers. (Bolick 167-170; Doerr, Menendez and Swomley 17-26). Due to this issue, the school vouchers are commonly used to target the private schools. In such cases, control is again one of the most important weapons to be able to safeguard the interest of the people. Although this is the case, the reason is also not strong enough to contradict and prevent the utilization of the policies related to the school voucher systems. The political aspect is one of the most controversial issues related to the proliferation of the voucher system due to the fact that the government officials are the common provider of such vouchers. The critics of the said system points out to the serious question of accountability of public funds when given to the advocacies such as the school voucher system. But if the perception of the advocates for the application of the voucher system is considered, the continuous improvement of the policies can come up with a system of control and guidelines in terms of the provision of school vouchers. The present question in terms of accountability can be eliminated when a legal and formal policy related to its application can be undertaken and given both chance and attention (Henig 26-30; Mead 2-4). Conclusion When it comes to the application of a proposition, it is important to be able to present all the advantages and disadvantages. Also the possible arguments are needed to be given attention. In the case of the school voucher system, the arguments that are presented by the critics can be attested and given arguments. Thus, for as long as the advocates of the issue can provide arguments, the system can be considered to be given chance. This is translated as the support of the voucher system. Upon the determination of the evidences through legal aspect, it is important to consider the truth behind the issue since there are contradictions and controversies involved. But comparative to criminal cases that are needed to be given careful attention and in depth studies prior to the legality of being proven, social and political issues such as the school voucher system is needed to be studied in profundity to be able to judge the feasibility. Thus, in conclusion, the application of the school voucher system and any form of voucher system is worth giving a chance to be able to distinctly and objectively present the outcomes. Unless educational groups are sure of the disadvantages, the advantages are still worth the application, utilization and maximization. References Bolick, Clint. Voucher Wars: Waging the Legal Battle over School Choice. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2003. Doerr, Edd, Albert J. Menendez and John M. Swomley. The Case against School Vouchers. Amherst. NY: Prometheus Books, 1996. Henig, Jeffrey R. Rethinking School Choice: Limits of the Market Metaphor. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994. Kupermintz, Haggai. The Effects of Vouchers on School Improvement: Another Look at the Florida Data. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 9 (8), March 19, 2001. Mead, Sara. "Information Underload: Florida's Flawed Special-Ed Voucher Program." Education Sector Reports, June 2007. Metcalf, Kim K. and Polly A. Tait. Free Market Policies and Public Education: What Is the Cost of Choice. Phi Delta Kappa International, 1999. Salisbury, David F. "Lessons From Florida: School Choice Gives increased Opportunities to Children Special Needs." Cato Institute Briefing Papers, March 20, 2003. United States General Accounting Office. Report to the Honorable Judd Gregg, U.S. Senate: School Vouchers, Publicly Funded Programs in Cleveland and Milwaukee. US GAO, August 2001. Walberg, Herbert J. and Margaret C. Wang. Eds. School Choice or Best Systems: What Improves Education. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Witte, John F. The Market Approach to Education: An Analysis of America's First Voucher Program. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000. Read More