Time To Talk ALTERNATIVES
The public education system can not and will not reform itself. The vested self-interests of the players — the “producers” as economists might label — are comfortable with the status quo. Pay, benefits, job security, status are well-assured.
The parents, students and paying public — the “consumers” as economists would call this side of the coin — are largely kept in the dark about real costs and waste and are cajoled by sweet-talk into accepting a more-or-less seemingly smooth operation of schooling for the young.
BUT, stories of rip-offs keep hitting the news. Subsidies to unions to pay staff from the public purse are a small part of the problem. We hear stories about administrative padding in school boards that grows at a faster pace than enrollment of students. On on it goes.
For those not brave enough to home educate their children, or rich enough to buy extra tutoring or private schooling, the choices are few. Those who thrive on a captive, obedient audience are quick to strongly oppose any alternatives parents may entertain — vouchers, charter schools, tuition tax credits, etc.
Well, there’s “a new kid on the block”, so to speak, about education alternatives that is inspiring both the consumer side of the system and legislators. In the United States at least 5 states have already adopted the model of Education Savings Accounts. Here is a video and more information can be found on the Internet — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPEkK5nfu3Y
A BIG surprise came in two days ago when Senator McCain introduced a federal bill to provide ESAs to American First Nations Children living on reserves and who might wish to choose private schools instead of Bureau of Indian Education schools. They would get an account worth 90% of the BIE allotment for a school of choice. https://www.redefinedonline.org/2016/03/education-savings-accounts-native-american/
Time to start talking about public education money in Canada following the child to a school parents choose that would best fit the child’s needs. Time to look into the merits and possibilities of Education Savings Accounts in Canada.
[posted SQE on topic “A Horse That Never Dies”]