A big source of opposition to state tuition vouchers comes from unions representing public school teachers. From New Jersey to Wisconsin, any challenge to benefits and pay received by teachers is countered by a media blitz of opposition.
Where do public school teachers send their kids? The answer might surprise you. According to a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, 25 percent of teachers in Baltimore and Washington send their kids to private schools. Nationwide, one in five public school teachers sends their child to a private school. In some large cities, the percentage of public school teacher’s children in private aschools was way above the nationalaverage of 20%. The Washington Times notes as follows.
“In Philadelphia, 44 percent of the teachers put their children in private schools; in Cincinnati, 41 percent; Chicago, 39 percent; Rochester, N.Y., 38 percent. The same trends showed up in the San Francisco-Oakland area, where 34 percent of public school teachers chose private schools for their children; 33 percent in New York City and New Jersey suburbs; and 29 percent in Milwaukee and New Orleans.”
A public school teacher is twice as likely as a member of the general population to send their child to a private school. Understandably, Michael Pons, spokesman for the National Education Association, as well as the American Federation of Teachers refused to comment on the findings.
Who is better qualified to deliver a verdict on public schools than its own teachers? If they lack confidence in their own schools, who is the general population to doubt them? If people had tuition vouchers for the school of their choice, the exodus from public schools would be even more dramatic. Teacher’s unions should be lobbying for a situation where teaching in private school does not mean a dramatic drop in pay and benefits. Making someone pay school taxes as well as tuition for the school of their choice is strongarming and coercion. It’s that simple.
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