Private Schools’ Quality Shows Need to Enact Voucher Initiative

* The letters (June 27) supporting public over private schools and criticizing the school voucher initiative were based mainly on emotional rhetoric and limited personal experiences, rather than on a systematic examination of relative merits.

Four years ago, when my son reached school age, I visited several public schools in Anaheim, Buena Park and Huntington Beach.

I asked to see examples of the work an average student would submit after three years and at age 14. I was shocked. The work was shoddy, compositions were poorly composed, neatness seemed to be sacrificed in the name of expediency. Geography and history were alien concepts and mastery of basic mathematical and scientific principles was almost non-existent.

I checked the local library and discovered the Orange County school with the highest state rating. A visit to the school proved to me that something was seriously wrong with the public school system. No public school in California is teaching to world-class standards, and it is against the world that we as Californians are competing.

Unlike the writers to your column, I also took the trouble to visit a number of private schools, again asking to see examples of students’ work.

Unlike the public schools who had greeted my request with suspicion and hesitation, the private schools went out of their way to show me the fabulous work their students were submitting. With the exception of one private school, which I rated as no better than the public schools, all the rest exhibited strong tendencies toward neatness and a thorough understanding of subject matter.

Not one of the private schools I visited charged fees in excess of $2,500. Unfortunately, that was $2,500 more than I could afford, and my son together with my conscience will suffer.

Almost all top politicians (including President Clinton and most of his appointees to executive positions) were educated at private institutions and they continue to send their children to private school. These same politicians, together with many teachers who send their children to private school, now have the audacity to state that what’s been good for them will be denied to us.

I urge all Californians who are contemplating voting “no” on the school voucher initiative to spot-check local public and private schools as I have done. They will then vote “yes.”

BARRY BRETT

Anaheim

* I share the concern in J.P. Hudson’s recent letter (June 20) on public education in California. I agree we need another source of funds such as the (value-added tax) in place of or because of Prop. 13’s limitations.

But why did Prop. 13 happen? Because the property tax was being badly misused for schools. Answer a simple question: What has property got to do with education? The answer: Nothing!

The property tax logically pays for police, fire department, streets, all things that benefit property. Why should persons owning only property be stuck supporting schools and those owning assets such as stocks and bonds get off scot-free?

Taxing property for schools got its start in Colonial New England when property was the only thing around to tax. This tax has held on today because property is visible, easy to assess.

But today, and for some time, assets such as stocks and bonds can easily be taxed. They’re a non-taxed part of every IRS tax return where dividends and interest are reported. All IRS needs to do is to ask you to report the value of the assets creating the dividends and interest and pay a tax, say 1%, common in many European countries.

If your broker reports your dividends and interest to IRS, he could just as easily report asset value as of Jan. 1, or some fixed date. Or you can do it yourself.

In my case, a 1% tax would about equal my federal income tax. That would be a jolt but I’d pay it if it went to pay off the federal deficit. Supporting education is everyone’s responsibility, so let’s have the VAT take care of it.

Of course I’d want those wealthier than I to pay a graduated tax. Tax-free bonds should be included. Let’s get education back on its feet.

S.C. CLARK

Laguna Hills