Public Funds and Private Schools

As a public school teacher who attended private schools through eighth grade, I was confused by Vickie Oddino’s selection of the top private school stereotypes (Voices, Aug. 17).

Rich parents, lack of cultural and religious diversity and exemption from the Americans With Disabilities Act aren’t the “bum raps” that immediately spring to my mind. I would have picked exclusive admissions, nonadherence to state education codes and lack of public accountability as my main beefs.

Still, private schools have every right to conduct business any way they choose since they are privately financed. However, when it is proposed that public tax money (vouchers) be used to send students to private schools, these stereotypes or bum raps take on new importance.

If a private school accepts public money, is it still private? Could it continue to exclude or remove certain students, include religious instruction, withhold standardized testing results from public scrutiny and remain exempt from state education codes?

Would public schools still be required to accept all students, provide an array of special education services and make test results public? After all, private schools wouldn’t have to follow these requirements but would still be receiving public funding.

Kurt Page

Laguna Niguel