Damn teacher's unions
A teacher's union in Florida is considering a lawsuit over tax credits available to businesses that donate to scholarship funds. This presents a problem here is Georgia because a similar measure (HB 1133) is being considered in the legislature and there is already opposition to it from the GAE:
House Bill 1133, sponsored by Rep. David Casas (R-Lilburn), creates an income tax credit for individuals and corporations who donate to organizations that give scholarships for students to switch to a private school.That could mean trouble ahead for Georgia if the union in Florida is successful with their lawsuit.The Senate Finance Committee will take up Casas' bill at 3:30 p.m. today.
Both bills have already passed their own home chambers but must get through the other.
"There's a long way to go to final passage, but there continues to be a desire to provide more options for education," Johnson said. "Public education is really the only monopoly left in government."
Jeff Hubbard, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, opposes the bills. He said neither would benefit many students and both would further weaken an education system already hurt by funding cuts.
"We believe public funds should be used for education of students in public schools," Hubbard said.
H/T: Cato @ Liberty
Comments
Why would you not send your child to private school ? I understand SOME people can not afford it but it is not that expensive.
Posted by: Doug Craig | March 26, 2008 04:17 PM
And people wonder why schools in the South are consistantly the worst in the nation.
I kinda agree with Boortz that government schools are child abuse. I'm with Doug. Send your kid to a private school or home school them.
This is the kind of thing that makes me reconsider going back to school to become a teacher.
Posted by: Prudie | March 26, 2008 04:30 PM
Jason,
I think the influence of the GAE has diminished considerably since the GOP took control of the state, which is a good thing.
They can sue, but other than that, they really can't do all that much.
Posted by: Jace Walden | March 26, 2008 07:34 PM
I don't know how much private schools are in your region, but around Richmond, VA they can be as much as $30,000 a year for Kindergarteners with "cheap" ones running 15K/yr. I had only 17K to repay in loans after four years away in college.
This article doesn't show the horror of public schools but instead highlights the problems with teachers unions. The problems associated with many public schools would be greatly diminshed if the teachers unions were disbanded or held far less power.
Posted by: Emily | March 28, 2008 09:27 AM