Several problems with the BLOCS model
As a Catholic woman who taught in both parochial and public schools and sent her own daughter to private Catholic schools, I think I can voice a strong opinion on the article by Mark Zimmaro about publicly financed scholarships for private schools (“Supporting life-changing scholarships as easy as 1-2-3,” Feb. 19).
First of all, I agree there is something very compelling about the need for a good education. No one can argue against that. Yes, a well-run school, like a well-run household, can almost guarantee a healthy and productive future for any child. My husband and I made sure our only child, a daughter, went to the best private school and college we could afford. It helped that she earned a college scholarship. She is now a healthy and thriving married adult.
Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools or BLOCS and its CEO, Rob Delany, are proposing increases in tax credits for those who donate more money to their scholarship fund that benefits low-income students. Of course this may resonate with many families who want their children in private rather than public schools. You do not even have to be Catholic to receive the money.
But none of this is easy. There are several problems with this plan. First of all, this law would circumvent the state constitution’s prohibition against funding religious education, otherwise known as separation of church and state. They get around that by calling it a “tax credit” rather than a direct donation by the state.
Another issue is the fact that private schools, by their very definition, get to choose their students, unlike public schools that must find a seat for everyone. My own child had to pass a test for admission to her private school, and we had to show our income tax documents to prove we could afford the tuition. Furthermore, any student in her class who could not keep up with the work, or had serious behavior problems, was simply expelled. See, that is the advantage that being private has over being public.
So the question remains: at what point do private schools that accept public money cease being private? And of course the question of supporting religious instruction with tax money can also become a challenge.
Of course, as a lifetime educator and devoted parent, I understand the need and desire for a great school. However, I have witnessed too many cases of needy children struggling with schoolwork. They require special education that alone is very expensive. Those needs are mostly provided in public schools, unless the private school is designed for such requirements. Either way it costs.
While I can admire the goals of leaders like Delany to provide excellent schooling for all children, I have to raise the obvious questions that may become court challenges. And don’t get me started on the obligations of parents to do their jobs of raising healthy children who can go to any well-funded school for their educational needs.
Gloria C. Endres
