Vouchers Won’t Solve Public School Problems

Re “Voucher Revision,” July 13:

At first glance, Burt Becker’s proposal for a revised version of school vouchers seems like a good idea. However, one of the problems inherent with the school voucher system is the fact that private schools have a choice as to which students they will accept. They do not want and will not take the slow learning, unruly and least motivated kids. This is one reason why a voucher system is not the solution to the inadequacies found in some public schools.

Becker’s proposal is based upon the often erroneous assumption that private schools provide a better education than public schools. Hopefully, Times readers also read the commentary by Ray Richmond (“A Public School Wins Top Marks,” July 14) regarding his son’s success in a public school (in the lowly Los Angeles Unified School District of all places!) My children have also received an excellent education in public schools. We have been in the Capistrano Unified School District for 12 years, and I would choose my children’s public schools over any local private school.

I know many parents who have tried both private and public schools. Most of them have come back to the public schools, not because they were dissatisfied with the private schools, but because the money they were spending was not providing a better education.

With all the voucher proposals I have seen, none appear to guarantee that “difficult” children (including special-education or special-needs children) will be accepted by quality public schools. This issue alone should be enough to table the voucher issue forever.

Maryanne Rose

Laguna Niguel