There is no racial inequality in school funding as you seem to suggest. There is, however, economic inequality in some states and, especially, in some cities and sometimes this economic inequality DOES have a racial correlation. It is important to understand the distinction. However, US Department of Education stuidies over the last 25 years have consistently shown that the amount of money spent per student has no correlation to student performance improvement. Instead, the most important factor influencing student performance improvement was (and is) parental involvement and the presence of two parents in the student's home. In single parent homes, parent's tend to be less involved (whether by choice or necessity) in the student's day-to-day educational activities. Based on these findings, it is clear that the high rate of illegitimacy in the African-American community is creating a significant disadvantage for those students. Vouchers tend to identify those parents who ARE involved in their child's education process and thus, improved performance in the new school is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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Other reader comments on this article
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Opposing vouchers while sending your own child to a private school is incredibe hypocrisy. It's simply a question of choice.... [MORE]
james jones
Mar 2, 2008 21:23
Ms. McDevitt's comment underscores the way that those on the right and the left talk past each other on this... [MORE]
Steve Staneart
Feb 25, 2008 22:26
Well, in his effort to appeal to conservatives more, Sen. McCain takes one more smart step (though, for all I... [MORE]
Chris Baecker
Feb 25, 2008 17:42
You're wrong about this parent of schoolchildren... and nearly all the parents of schoolchildren whom I know.
And you're absolutely right... [MORE]
Bill Bensen
Feb 25, 2008 13:13
The fact that the obama children attend private school is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to... [MORE]
David H Werdine
Feb 25, 2008 12:31
In your quote, Obama does not say that he supports vouchers. He would support them if there is evidence that... [MORE]
srw
Feb 25, 2008 10:49
You miss his point entirely. The point he makes is that while he is not in favor of vouchers now,... [MORE]
Hilary McDevitt
Feb 25, 2008 10:32
Teachers, like everyone else in private industry and in government, need to be held accountable individually for their performance. Accountability... [MORE]
David Justin Lynch
Feb 25, 2008 10:23
Obama and Farakhan? Wow!!! Who would have tought! lol [MORE]
jasper
Feb 25, 2008 10:08
Obama has called for merit pay of teachers, an act of political courage which neither Hillary nor McCain has matched.
Calls... [MORE]
mnjam
Feb 25, 2008 10:02
There is no racial inequality in school funding as you seem to suggest. There is, however, economic inequality in some...
MildlyAmused1
Feb 26, 2008 08:47
That his campaign says, "Throughout his career, he has voted against voucher proposals and voiced concern for siphoning off resources... [MORE]
Lew Waters
Feb 25, 2008 02:30
Talk is Talk. Obama vigorously opposes school vouchers for poor or middle income parents who want the ability to send... [MORE]