The first point to be made is that such a system will empower parents by providing them choices in deciding what schools their children may attend. This choice to parents comes in the form of a voucher in a predetermined sum. The voucher amount represents tax dollars already being collected from citizens and used for education. Parents would receive a voucher and present it to the school of their choice. Vouchers show that since the State has determined and pays a specific dollar amount per student to each school, a voucher system will not impact the budget amount allocated for education; but will simply allow these tax dollars to be placed in the school of the parent’s choice.
Second, it is believed that by allowing children to attend a public or private school of choice, the quality of education along with the opportunity to achieve success will increase. Adelsheimer and Rix state that, “increased competition from voucher schools will force public schools to improve, or risk closure.”[2] Dr. Babula also believes and agrees with this outlook that vouchers will promote competition among schools to the point where overachieving schools would attract students, while underperforming schools would go out of business. Still others regard private schools as efficient institutions that promote appropriate student behavior and high achievement. Supporters further contend that the use of vouchers will infuse more funds into public schools with no increase in taxes. The rationale of this is that more families will place their children in neighborhood schools.
While Dr. Babula has identified our education systems problems and even sought out solutions to them, his opponents could not say the same. Albert Wynn, the current Congressman for the 4th Congressional District in Maryland, has only informed the public of the ongoing education problems. Wynn says “It should be the goal of Congress to make sure that every American student who wants to go to college has the opportunity”[3], but then fails to incorporate a sure-fire method of how this could be done. Although he has mentioned the current failure of the ‘No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB), and how the government has cut billions of dollars from Student Aid Programs, Wynn has yet to mention how he could possibly go about undoing the damages and making our education system better.
Although Albert Wynn says one thing and does another, Dr. Babula’s other opponent, Donna Edwards, has at least taken some steps towards the improvement of our education system. Edwards, just like Dr. Babula, has stated that “student loan programs should not be a personal enrichment opportunity for chief executives and shareholders like Sallie Mae”[4], and feels that the availability to be able to borrow at competitive loans with low rates, should restore the service side of the student loan program.
In conclusion, public opinion polls reveal that substantial majorities support a parent's right to choose; most parents would choose a private school over a government school if they could afford to; and most parents believe government schools are doing a poor job with the resources they are given.[5] A voucher plan capitalizes on the public's view of the situation, even though it leaves the entitlement--which is still popular--in place. Why is it then that the current Congressman for the 4th Congressional District in Maryland and opponent Donna Edwards have refused to mention this either on their site or during their campaigning? While opinion polls show that significant majorities of the public support vouchers[6], he only candidate who supports them is Dr. Babula himself. With Dr. Babula not only favoring this way of educational improvement through vouchers, but the creation of a national lottery to create free grants for undergraduate and graduate students. His campaign points are both well perceived and well examined, making him an outstanding Congressional choice.
[1] Michael Babula for Congress - Maryland 4th District
[2] Adelsheimer, Erica, and Kate Rix, What We Know About Vouchers: The Facts Behind the Rhetoric. San Francisco, WestEd Policy Program, 1999. 15 pages.
[3] The Online Office of Congressman Albert R. Wynn – Education < option="com_content&task=" id="15&Itemid=">
[4] Education Donna Edwards for Congress <>
[5] See "Americans' Views on Education Issues," U.S. News & World Report, April 1, 1996, p. 54; and Ann Bradley, "Public Backing for Schools Is Called Tenuous," Education Week 15, no. 7 (October 18, 1995): 1, 3.
[6] See Jeanne Allen, "What Americans Really Think of School Choice," Wall Street Journal, September 17, 1996, p. A16.
