Private schools stand against vouchers

It's a great day, people.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the following news piece that ran today in The State and the Sun News enforcing what I have been saying all along - but this time private schools speak up on the issue:

Bryan Burnett, chairman of the board of Jefferson Davis Academy, a private school in Barnwell County, said small schools like his would be interested in accepting students whose parents get a tax credit — as long as the students are learning at their grade level and have no major learning disabilities.

“We have one class for each grade. We have a small school facility. We’re just not financially set up to serve a lot of the students that public schools serve,” he said.

I am happy to see the private schools of this state speak out and inform the people of the obvious. Taking children away from a problem school will not fix the problem of a minimal education. Setting high standards in our state constitution is a great starter, but we have to be more focused on parent involvement in the public school system - and I mean involvement, not just dumping off kids for extra study hours and picking them up or letting them do activities while you mingle with other parents for social hour.

Charter schools - schools funded with public money, but have more flexibility for innovation, aren't faring so well either.

In the past few years, 35 charter schools also have opened in the state. These public schools are freed from some state regulations to encourage innovation.

But, so far, charter schools are faring no better academically than traditional public schools. According to 2008 state report card data, 22 of the state’s 34 charter schools were rated as below average or at risk of failure.

The problem is the funding, people. Fund the education system the way it's supposed to be funded, then you can filter to the branches of the tree - teacher merit pay, stricter guidelines, better buildings, more aides, etc.

I get sick and tired hearing and reading about teacher unions being the problem. Hey GOPhers, how about do your research about teachers, unions and South Carolina before even attempting to think the unions are to blame.

Again, it's a great day... Even when private schools tell you they are not the solution.