Ch.+2+resources

Lisa Banavich Reaction Paper- Chapter 2 EDUC610 School choice and vouchers are a complicated topic. I found myself agreeing with points that each side was making. Even after completing the reading, I am not sure I can say that I totally agree with one side. I do think that families should be allowed to choose a school based on their child’s needs, learning style, and type of school environment. School choice should not be affected by the cost of sending a student to that school and should belong to the parents or guardians of each child. I am a big believer in each child being able to have the same opportunities as any other, whether they are a girl or boy, black or white, poor or rich. I think that when parents have a choice in where they are going to send their child to school, they will be more likely to be satisfied with their child’s education. After all, if they are not happy with the school,( in most situations) it will be their fault since they chose that particular school! The author who is for school choice believes that vouchers will cause school populations to become more diverse. If this in fact occurred, it would be an added benefit to school choice. The author believes that school choice would create competition between schools and would, in fact, make the schools better as they tried to get more students to attend their institutions. Some negative consequences of school choice are thought to include less tolerance of other religions because more students would be attending private religiously affiliated schools. I know I am only one person, but I went to Catholic school for 12 years. I do not think that it caused me to have less tolerance of other religions. But, I do know that I was very unaware of the fact that other religions even existed! I got to college and was shocked to find out that everyone was not Catholic. I definitely can see how school choice may cause some isolation because of my own experience. In the end, I am not sure that either author presented a solution to the problem of school choice that would really and truly work.