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Spring 2002

ISSN 0890-913X

Volume 17, Number 2

Categories: Spring 2002 | Education

Using Vouchers to Reform Schools : A Reply to Conservative and Libertarian Doubters

Joseph L. Bast, The Heartland Institute

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UsingVoucherstoReformSchools:AReplytoConservativeandLibertarianDoubtersJosephL.BastTheHeartlandInstituteToday,approximately87percentofstudentsintheU.S.attendgovernmentschools.TheseschoolsaregenuinelysocialistentitiesCthebuildings,desks,chairs,andotherequipmentareownedbythestateandmaintainedbygovernmentworkers.Curriculumisdeterminedbyelectedschoolboards.Teachersaregovernmentemployees.Governmentworkersassignstudentstoschoolsbasedonwheretheirparentslive.Thereislittleroomoropportunityinthissystemfortheexerciseofparentalchoice.In1962,economistMiltonFriedmanproposedprivatizingK-12educationintheU.S.bygivingparentstax-financedvoucherstobeusedtopaysomeorallofthetuitionatparticipatingpublicandprivateschools(Friedman,1962).Hepredictedthatcompetitionamongprivateandgovernmentschoolsforthevoucherswouldensureahigherqualityandmorediverseofferingofschools,andparentswouldbeempoweredtodemandbetterperformancefromschooladministrators.ThegeniusofFriedman=splanisthatbyfundingindividualconsumersofschooling,ratherthantheproviders,marketforcescanberestoredtoeducationwithout(orwithamuchreducedchanceof)thethreatofincreasedregulationofproviders.Theplanisalsostrategicallyingenious:byleavinggovernmentresponsibleforprovidingeducationbutnotproducingit,itaddressesthefearsofthegreatmajorityofpeoplethatacompletelyfree-marketapproachtoeducationwoulddenyaqualityeducationtothechildrenofparentswhoaretoopoor,unmotivated,orill-educatedthemselvestoinvestsufficientlyintheirchildren=seducation.InthenearlyfourdecadessinceFriedmanmadehisproposal,manyproposalsforvouchershavebeenadvancedbyscholars,activists,andpoliticians.Duringthe1960s,somestatesadoptedvoucherplans(e.g.,LouisianaandGeorgia)butwereforcedto

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Metadata [hide]

Title	Using Vouchers to Reform Schools : A Reply to Conservative and Libertarian Doubters
Authors/Creators:	Joseph L. Bast, The Heartland Institute
Year:	2002
Volume:	17
Number:	2
Pages:	74 - 85
Publisher:	The Association of Private Enterprise Education
ISSN:	0890-913X
Document Type:	Articles
Keywords:	Public education, Privatization, Educational theory, Liberalism, Taxation, Public expenditure, Social security, Voucher schools, Competition, Ethics

Citation:
Bast, Joseph L. / 2002. "Using Vouchers to Reform Schools : A Reply to Conservative and Libertarian Doubters." The Journal of Private Enterprise, 17(2): 74-85.