Douglas County School District Superintendent Liz Fagen, front right, answers questions during a press conference about the Colorado Supreme Court ruling the Douglas County School Districtap controversial school voucher program unconstitutional in a split ruling on June 29 at the state Supreme Court. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Re: “School vouchers aren’t the answer, Douglas County,” July 13 letter to the editor.
Letter-writer John Murphy’s claim that vouchers aren’t the answer to current problems with public education is wrong. Vouchers are the answer, particularly for poor kids.
Giving vouchers to low-income kids trapped in the worst-performing schools located in impoverished neighborhoods so they can attend better schools, be they public or private, will dramatically increase their access to a quality education.
Murphy criticized Douglas County’s Board of Education for supporting a voucher program that he says “advocates an elitist approach of undermining the public school system.” Vouchers allow poor children to escape failed schools, almost all of which are concentrated in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Dougco Board of Education members should be thanked and congratulated for their humanity and their concern for what is best for all students.
If voucher opponents are so concerned about “social diversity,” “common values,” “common culture,” and “associating with the majority,” they should send their kids to the failing schools they would deny their victims the opportunity to escape.
Steve Schuck, Colorado Springs
This letter was published in the July 29 edition.
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