Regarding your first objection, the US Supreme Court has on multiple occasions found that what matters with vouchers is who makes the choice to allocate the money -- parents and guardians -- not the nature of the school receiving the money. I see your second objection from the perspective of someone who taught in both a private Catholic school in a low-income area and a high-performing public charter school where a significant number of families' income was such that they qualified for free and reduced lunches. I also had the privilege of leading the charter school as principal for several years. Of course school funding is important, but it is often well down the list of reasons why schools fail to educate well. Per capita spending for K-12 students in cities such as Washington, DC, and New York City exceeds most districts in the US, yet a majority of their students score well below proficient in reading and math. In Baltimore City -- another big-spending district -- just 15% of students scored at or above the proficient level in reading in 2022. Money is not the answer to everything in K-12 education. Private (yes, usually religious) and charter schools often represent a lifeline to families, especially low-income families. Why should those families be forever chained to big-spending schools that fail to educate year after year? Well-to-do families certainly aren't.
A non-abusive single parent is not worse than an abusive parent, single or otherwise. However, children in single-parent families are more likely to experience poor outcomes. Yes, there are exceptions. The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a good source for relevant data. Brooks's piece is not without flaws. Two rebuttals: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sliding-vs-deciding/202002/the-nuclear-family-was-no-mistake-a-response-to-david-brooks https://ifstudies.org/blog/number-2-in-2020-yes-david-brooks-the-nuclear-family-is-the-worst-family-form-except-for-all-others
Jonathan, may I ask about your thinking in selecting VSGDX for the non-TIPS part of your bond holdings? Also, do you tilt one way or the other between TIPS and non-TIPS?
Comments
The decisions forming the basis for the constitutionality of school vouchers span several decades. They predate the current Court.
Post: Our perception of fairness – taxes that is says RDQ
Link to comment from December 27, 2024
Regarding your first objection, the US Supreme Court has on multiple occasions found that what matters with vouchers is who makes the choice to allocate the money -- parents and guardians -- not the nature of the school receiving the money. I see your second objection from the perspective of someone who taught in both a private Catholic school in a low-income area and a high-performing public charter school where a significant number of families' income was such that they qualified for free and reduced lunches. I also had the privilege of leading the charter school as principal for several years. Of course school funding is important, but it is often well down the list of reasons why schools fail to educate well. Per capita spending for K-12 students in cities such as Washington, DC, and New York City exceeds most districts in the US, yet a majority of their students score well below proficient in reading and math. In Baltimore City -- another big-spending district -- just 15% of students scored at or above the proficient level in reading in 2022. Money is not the answer to everything in K-12 education. Private (yes, usually religious) and charter schools often represent a lifeline to families, especially low-income families. Why should those families be forever chained to big-spending schools that fail to educate year after year? Well-to-do families certainly aren't.
Post: Our perception of fairness – taxes that is says RDQ
Link to comment from December 27, 2024
A non-abusive single parent is not worse than an abusive parent, single or otherwise. However, children in single-parent families are more likely to experience poor outcomes. Yes, there are exceptions. The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a good source for relevant data. Brooks's piece is not without flaws. Two rebuttals: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sliding-vs-deciding/202002/the-nuclear-family-was-no-mistake-a-response-to-david-brooks https://ifstudies.org/blog/number-2-in-2020-yes-david-brooks-the-nuclear-family-is-the-worst-family-form-except-for-all-others
Post: Those Who Follow by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from November 4, 2024
I have been learning from you for years, Jonathan -- but never more, about the most profound things, than in the last few months. Thank you for that.
Post: No Regrets
Link to comment from September 7, 2024
Ormode, your understanding of the issues seems well-considered and nuanced. (Thank you for that.) Do you have suggestions for further reading?
Post: Making Claims
Link to comment from April 5, 2024
Thank you.
Post: Totally Your Choice
Link to comment from March 30, 2024
Jonathan, may I ask about your thinking in selecting VSGDX for the non-TIPS part of your bond holdings? Also, do you tilt one way or the other between TIPS and non-TIPS?
Post: Totally Your Choice
Link to comment from March 30, 2024
Jeff Amick, I hope you're doing okay.
Post: Why the Long Face?
Link to comment from September 27, 2023
Raise taxes, increase productivity and economic growth... Is the idea that we should get our spending under control just completely off the table now?
Post: Why the Long Face?
Link to comment from September 27, 2023
Fair enough.
Post: Powerful Savings
Link to comment from September 23, 2023