Storm Letter

To the Editor,
I am writing in response to Jesse Purdon’s misguided views about Proposal 1. It seems as if you (and many others) are basing your opinions off the advertisements that you’ve seen on television. Well, guess what? You cannot believe everything that the little black box tells you (sorry Jesse, it’s a rough world). You see, people pay your TV to tell you what they want you to believe. It’s called a campaign. Here are the facts behind Proposal 1. I trust that you will make the right choice.
Proposal 1 has two parts. The part that many of us have seen advertised is the teacher testing. Yes, teachers should be tested regularly. That is why, unlike doctors Jesse, teachers are tested on a regular basis. Not only are they tested every day in the classroom, they are required to have continuing education so that they stay current in their subject area. The teacher testing part of this bill is what is called a “rider.” A rider is something attached to a bill that deflects attention from the larger issue. That brings us to part two of the bill.
Proposal 1 is mainly about school vouchers, no matter what your television tells you. The voucher program is aimed at seven school districts in the state of Michigan that have “failing schools” (schools with low test scores and/or high drop out rates).
Currently public schools in Michigan get around $6,200 for each student enrolled in their school. What the voucher program will do is give each student a coupon for one-half of their worth, around $3,100. The students can then take the coupon and use it to attend any school they want. If Proposal 1 were to pass, the school districts most in need of financial and community support will lose students and money. The money will be given to religious and private schools, and the spending of this money will not be monitored as it is in public schools.
The kids who do not change schools, (i.e., the ones whose parents cannot come up with the other half of their “worth” or who cannot get a ride to a school outside their neighborhood) will be the ones who really suffer. They will be forced to stay for three years in a school that was just “failing” but with the passage of Proposal 1, will be going bankrupt as well.
I agree that we have schools that need help, but this proposal is the wrong way to go about it. I’m sure these kids would join me in urging you to VOTE NO ON PROPOSAL 1. It is their future, and they are ours. Make the right choice.