I don’t often quote Wall Street Journal editorials, but I am so tired of the hypocrisy of out elected officials (and unelected ones too), that is bears repeating:
… Barack and Michelle Obama have opted out of public schools in D.C. — as they also did in Chicago — and chosen a private school for their own girls. So have 44% of Senators and 36% of Representatives, … Mr. Duncan (the Secretary of Education) has exercised another, far more common kind of school choice for his family.
Science magazine recently asked Mr. Duncan where his daughter attends school and “how important was the school district in your decision about where to live?” He responded: “She goes to Arlington [Virginia] public schools. That was why we chose where we live, it was the determining factor . . . I didn’t want to try to save the country’s children and our educational system and jeopardize my own children’s education.”
President Obama and his Education Secretary have repeatedly promised to support “what works,” regardless of ideology. The teachers unions adamantly oppose school vouchers, whether or not they work. Ergo, Messrs. Obama and Duncan decide to end a D.C. school voucher program that works and force poor kids back into schools where Messrs. Obama and Duncan would never send their own children. What a disgrace.
My wife and I intend on sending our children to private schools … but may not be able to due to the high taxes where we live. Ironic, no?
My wife and I are considering home schooling. There is great home school support in Missouri; the laws are fairly good towards that purpose, too. I’ve always found it interesting that I’m qualified to teach college students with a Masters or as a teaching assistant, but I could not teach high school students, except as a substitute teacher, the same material since I don’t have the legal qualifications.
We’ve had good results with virtual charter schools, and for two years we home schooled one of our children. Our youngest has attended a virtual school for four years, starting in kindergarten.
Granted, one parent becomes the primary proctor/educator so this is not for everyone. In our case my wife was working full-time as an educator …. with 98% of her salary was devoted to daycare and transportation.
She likes to say she still teachers but her class size is much smaller these days.