[quote=AN][quote=CA renter]You have an incredible amount of freedom where education is concerned, but you don’t have that freedom at the taxpayer’s expense. We ALL pay taxes for things we don’t like and/or don’t use. That is the price we ALL pay for living in a civilized democracy.
We homeschool and get NO public funding, subsidies, or support of any kind (some can get public funding if they HS through a public school or publicly-funded private charter). I’m willing to bet that we pay some of the highest property taxes (the primary funding source for public schools) in the county, relatively speaking. We’re not asking for “our” money back, in the same way that the senior citizens or childless people can’t ask for their prop tax money to be returned. And people who never use parks or libraries, etc. don’t get to ask for their tax money to be returned, either.
California has some of the most liberal laws WRT schooling and/or homeschooling. You can pretty much do whatever you want. You can replicate the LJCD education at home, if you wish. You can hire private tutors, or take your kids around the world, or do pretty much whatever you want. Can you do it on the taxpayer dime? No, but why should you be able to do so? Your taxes entitle your (and everyone else’s) children to an education at a public school. That’s all you’re entitled to; nothing more. Whatever you want to do in addition to that, or outside of that, is on your dime.[/quote]Thanks for proving my point that there is very little choice in our current system. You fail to see that the freedom you’re talking about is strictly reserved for the rich. The dual income middle class and below do not have the same freedom you described.
I’ve never said anything about getting my tax dollar back. I just want every kid to have the same opportunity whether you’re rich or poor. Which is why I take huge offense to your claim that we all have a lot of choices and freedom. It’s easier for those who are rich to say that we do, because they can afford those freedom.
As for California school, again, we CANNOT do whatever we want. Only the rich can do whatever they want because they can afford it. Those who are not rich, well, you’re SOL.
The key objection from me is your statement that we all have a lot of choice and not that I want my tax dollar back. FYI, I’m fully aware of the status quo and I’ve accepted that. That doesn’t mean I have to accept the lies that all parents have a lot of choice in where to send their kids to school.
I want my tax dollar to educate all the kids with the best school, be it private or public. I want all kids to have that opportunity, not just the rich. I’m not asking for higher taxes to do it. I just want parents to have the choice, and not be stuck with no choice due to their economic status.[/quote]
Welcome to reality. This is the case for almost everything. Rich people get to eat better food, get better healthcare, get better deals and discounts (even though they’re the ones who need them least), take longer and better vacations, drive nicer cars, live in nicer houses, wear nicer clothing, etc. Rich people get to send their kids to more prestigious universities where their kids will make better connections with which they can improve their lot and the well-being of following generations. It’s not fair, but it’s reality. Gosh, AN, are you suggesting that we make sure we give every the same quality and quantity of goods and services, no matter who pays for them? Sounds like communism to me. 😉
And, in general, while rich people pay a much lower percentage of their income/wealth on taxes, they DO pay higher property taxes which is what funds the bulk of K-12 public education.
I know homeschoolers who are some of the poorest people around; but they believe that education is a priority, so they make tremendous sacrifices in order to give their kids a good education. Homeschooling is NOT just for the rich. Also, many religious private schools offer discounts. In California, we are very fortunate to have a wide array of choices…for all people. We have far more choices in education than we do in a lot of other things.
