By Al Colombo
and Jacki Juntti

Some folks believe that the government should let go of some of our tax dollars when a parent elects to send his/her kids to a private institution, as oppose to a public school. The voucher issue has met with defeat repeatedly as it is debated and voted on in various state legislatures. Although you may not think so now, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise.

Are vouchers really that good of an idea? Are they really in the best interest of parents and students involved in private education?

I happen to believe that they are not in the best interest of anyone, other than the governmental body that grants them. The reason is simple, but let me begin by asking you this simple question:

Everytime and anytime the federal government or state becomes involved in subsidizing anything at the local level, what is it that always comes along with that money?

Let me answer that: BIG FAT STRINGS!!

You can bet that if the federal and/or state government funds vouchers for parents of students who attend this nation's private schools, the very same folks that have made our public schools such a mess will most assuredly end up at the helm of those private enterprises as well. Is this what you want for your children and grandchildren?

Before I turn the podium over to a good friend, Jackie Juntti, to render her viewpoint on this issue, let me make this suggestion. Instead of bringing our money back home through government vouchers (with big fat strings), why don't we work to have Washington and our various state legislatures let go of enough of our tax dollars that we can pay for our childrens' private education ourselves?

Why should some parents have the right to send their kids to private halls of learning instead of a public school like everyone else? Because this is America! This is the land of choice! If I wanted to live in a country where there's only one choice, the state, I'd move to China or Russia, or some third-world country. This is America.

Now, lend Jackie your good ear and please consider what she has to say about vouchers. --Al Colombo

Jacki Juntti, Washington State, USA:

My position on Vouchers, Charters and any other method used by *government schools* is a flat out NO!!!

As long as tax funds, controlled by the government, are used to provide the funding then we will get the SAME QUALITY with the SAME RESTRICTIONS as we are getting right now in the current educational system. Same Train - Same Track - just a different engineer running the train. (NOTE: The engineer can't change the direction the train travels on the same old tracks.)

As long as Goals 2000 or any of its morphed legislation is in existence there will be no REAL change. With the Certificate of Mastery as the end rule - even Homeschoolers are going to be dragged into the Government System.

The only solution: Return education to the LOCAL (no higher than the County) level, run by LOCAL folks and paid for by LOCAL folks. Get rid of the Federal and State Dept's. of Education as all they do is suck off your hard earned money to reduce the educational level of our kids. This same theme holds for all 'government' *services*. Return to what the Constitution outlines for each level to perform and life will be much better for everyone.

Jackie Juntti
WGEN idzrus@earthlink.net