Other Voices: School vouchers work

To say that the California public school system is failing is an understatement. After years of hiding the true numbers, state officials were forced to admit that more than 24 percent of all children entering high school drop out according to new data garnered from the state's "Statewide Student Identifier System." Even by conservative estimates this figure is too high. California is next to last in the nation in reading and math scores and we scorenear the bottom in all the sciences. It is a tragedy that the 24 percent drop out rate means more young people will find themselves with fewer opportunities, greater impoverishment and sadly, increased chances of an encounter with the criminal justice system.

We are at a time in our country's history where a well-educated populace is essential to our survival as an economic super power. The teacher's union refuses to admit the obvious; that the school voucher system works. School vouchers, also called education vouchers, are certificates issued by the government by which parents can pay for the education of their children at a school of their choice rather than the public school to which they are assigned.

Having been in place now for more than a decade the results are in: publicly-funded vouchers have proven to be successful in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Dayton, San Antonio and most recently the state of Florida. The voucher system has been so successful in our nation's capital that the democrat-controlled congress, under pressure from the National Teacher's Union, is trying to outlaw it.

Even Great Britain, which debated the merits of the voucher system for years, has now introduced it into their pre-school education. Early reports indicate that the system has lowered costs, increased efficiency and reduced bureaucracy. It is expected that Great Britain will soon extend the voucher system to all levels of education.

The opponents of the school voucher system have used ad hominem arguments to scare the public and keep the rank and file in line. The idea that vouchers would condemn the worst performing students because the private schools would recruit the best students has been proven wrong and actually, the reverse is true. The costs to educate a voucher student are half of what it takes to educate a public school student, thereby affording teachers more time with struggling students in smaller classes. Another myth that has been dispelled is the fear that there would be mass teacher layoffs under the voucher system. What has actually happened in that a lot of teachers have decided to open up their own private schools. Teachers in areas where vouchers have been established have reported that because of the competition, the yoke of bureaucratic regulations have loosened and they are able to exercise more creativity. When schools must compete, it is our youth that are the winners.

As Californians we have always believe that our state was on the cutting-edge of societal advancement. California was the first state to pass initiative and referendum laws. We created a tax revolution with Proposition 13 and recalled a governor that deceived the voters about our states' financial condition in order to be reelected. The country and indeed the world has always looked upon California as the bell weather of change to come, yet we have fallen behind the power curve when it comes to innovation in education.

• It is time to put the interests of our youth over special interests.

• It is time to embrace the change that will give our youth a leg up in a competitive world.

• It is time to assume our roll as leaders in an ever-changing world.

We have some of the best and brightest teachers and administrators here in Yuba and Sutter counties. I challenge the leaders of our counties to take the bold and courageous step to support a resolution promoting the school voucher system.