American public education - myths exploded

[Copernicus]

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" I don't have any kids, why do my property taxes pay for the education of others?"

The simple fact that you ask such a foolish question makes suspect all of your other ideas. Have another Duff.

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Perhaps because education of children benefits society as well as the individual children who are educated? Doh!

As I mentioned in the other education thread, I dont think vouchers should be for the entire cost per pupil in the public schools, though. It should only be for the direct costs of education, teachers, supplies, books and so on.

Those are reasonably flexible costs and will not be spent when the student goes to private school. (Reasonably flexible because you cant eliminate partial teachers, there are no savings until enough students withdraw to actually eliminate a job, then no savings till the next job etc.)

Relatively inflexible costs of building maintenance, utitlities, debt service on bonds etc. should not be part of the voucher money. The residual amount the voucher doesnt cover can be looked at as the private school family's contribution to the societal benefits of broad education, similar to the childless families.