I came across a news story about a controversial tax credit proposed in NYS so that some students could choose to go to private schools. The concern is that private school tuition cited in the article is getting to be approximately $8,500. With Buffalo schools spending over $22,000 per student. This sounds like a bargain and perhaps a fair way for lower income students to attend elite schools. Teachers unions don't like it, of course. I don't either because it discriminates against homeschoolers.
If I can provide an education as good as a private school, shouldn't I get a credit? I say if the governor is concerned about children learning, then fund any means by which children learn. It will never happen because it isn't about learning as much as it is about a system that benefits large corporations. They need obedient employees who are used to doing what they are told similar to what children are expected to do all day in school. They also want the benefit of two parents in the workforce to bid down the wages. Several of the online lectures by Richard Wolff explain that part of the reason wages are so low now is that women entered the workforce in such large numbers. More supply of workers means businesses can pay less for their labor. It is the straight up supply/demand dynamic in economics. I am not against women's equality of course, but he explains that while some women sought careers, many went to work because the family needed more money. Only about thirty years ago some in our society looked down on women working outside the home. Now, our society looks down on stay at home parents, particularly mothers, as being lazy. It is time to provide incentives to reverse this. Any incentive to have either parent home giving children high quality, one on one care would benefit society more than any of these programs.
One on one education is one area. If low class size is desirable, homeschool is it. What about the healthcare system? Isn't everyone concerned about obesity? Allow for one of the parents to have time to make home cooked meals and this one is improved. What about peer pressure to do drugs? Take children out of school and impressing their peers will be unimportant. Rather, the values of the parents will be more influential. This would hurt big corporations, of course, because if their student doesn't need to impress his/her friends with their brand name clothes, they will not spend as much on clothing. Advertising depends on peer pressure. What about poverty? Allowing poor parents to earn money teaching their children one on one is a great idea. Please don't tell me that poor parents are not capable. Most parents can teach their children to read and use the library. No, they are not bad people, most parents want to do right by their children as long as they are not stressed about making ends meet. What about the environment? Take away the need for kids and both parents to leave the house every day and fossil fuel use goes down. The exact amount would be difficult to determine, because there will be errands and fieldtrips, but surely it won't be every day reducing emissions somewhat. Oops, the oil companies will suffer.
Governor, I hope you are listening to me and really concerned about education. If you are, I think you know that discriminating against homeschoolers in your tax credit proposal is unfair. My guess is that you will ignore this, but I challenge you to at least respond.
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