Huntsman: "Vouchers Are Good for All the Kids of Utah"

None by KCPW

Governor, Legislative Leaders Unite in Support of Ref 1

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman headlined a press conference yesterday in support of education vouchers. He joined republican leaders of the state legislature in calling on voters to support the state's voucher law:

"I'm here to say what I've said all along. And that is what is good for our long-term competitiveness, what is good for all of the kids in our state is encapsulated in this voucher bill," says Huntsman. "And here we have a chance to get informed about it and cast a vote."

Vouchers will not solve all of the state's education concerns, adds Huntsman. Senate President John Valentine says the legislature will continue making significant gains in funding public education with next year's budget.

Critics at the press conference admit the Governor's support may sway some voters. But they believe voucher opposition from public school teachers and parents is a more convincing message to voters.

As for polls that show 60 percent of Utahns against vouchers, House Speaker Greg Curtis says polls are not a good indicator of the potential outcome of the election. Curtis, Valentine and Huntsman all say they will respect the outcome of the referendum in November.

1. Tom Shuford said:

WE ARE A DRIFTING NATION.Utah can Show America how to move forward.

A retired public school teacher, I have lobbied for expanded options forfamilies for 40 years. It’s been frustrating: few victories and far between.My side does not have millions to counter anti-school choice campaignsof the National Education Association and allied organizations.

But we do have logic, and we do have facts.

At Google, type two words: “academic” and “weakness” --- in either order.A piece I wrote for EducationNews.org,“U.S. Academic Weakness: Root Causes” will be listed #1(of about 2 million hits.)

Another piece, “Hidden Bias in American Education,”illustrates dangerous deformities built into the current school funding model.

At Google type in “Hidden” and “Bias.”It will be the 6th or so of 2 million hits.

NEA Slated to Send $3 Millionto Utah for Anti-Voucher Campaign.

“The National Education Association board of directors held an urgentmeeting via conference call last Friday concerning the upcoming referendumon school vouchers in Utah...“ Education Intelligence Agency Communique,August 20, 2007. Item #2:http://www.eiaonline.com/archives/20070820.htm

Paid for by Tom Shuford, retired teacher, columnist, EducationNews.orgLenoir, NC

2. Tom Nedreberg said:

Tom Shuford, if you are a retired teacher, I can see it wasn't in English. Also it appears you aren't from Utah so what do you care about what happens here. I teach in Utah. I'm not worried about my job with the passing of vouchers. I'm worried about the children and what effects they will have to suffer because of their parents desire to seperate them from the public schools. I worry about what kind of schools could arise. I worry about the accountability and quality of some of these schools. I know there are some great private schools but I don't feel my tax dollars should go to support them. People in Utah have a great amount of "Choice" when it comes to schools. The choices even include private schools. I again don't want to pay for that choice with my tax dollars. So to me the debate on vouchers is kind of simple. I'm voting NO on referendum 1 because I don't believe my tax dollars should go to individuals to be used for private schools.

3. swrl said:

I thought Huntsman was going to remain committed but wasnt going to enter the arena. Read my libs.

4. Lynne Brown said:

I work within the Ogden City School District and am dismayed by the amount of email being sent on the school's mail system by various members within the district including the school's top administration, union reps and the like trying to get the vote out against Ref. 1. Teachers' mailboxes are full of calls to walk neighborhoods, staff call centers, distribute flyers and signs and more - exclusively from anti-referendum 1 groups. The superintendent of this school district also had his assistant send out an email as a disclaimer to remarks he had made in a prior email about the need for "fairness and equal voice" in this election and that the school email system was off limits as a campaign tool. The assistant's email let everyone know the superintendant "had to say those things publicly" and those weren't his real sentiments. I'm appalled at the fraud and dishonesty that has taken over our electoral process. We are a democratic nation whose "democracy" is being placed at great risk by such unethical practices in this particular race by these particular people at a state level. Our federal system merely mirrors what we are allowing our electoral process to become at this level.

5. m said:

To be quite frank I personally feel that public school teachers are FAILING to teach our children. I can say that because I went to public school and I got great grades but my English teacher did not teach us grammar all through High school I was taught literature So now I can read. Also they are FAILING to properly teach the history of this nation. The constitution is not being taught thus we see the demoralization of our political people due to not being taught the true nature of this nation. Also if you are concerned that you are paying taxes for parents to send their children to private school, think of this private school parents have been paying taxes for public education and for their childrens education and they have not said a thing. So shut up about the tax thing it will actually allocate more money per student in your precious public school classrooms. Perhaps we should be looking at how our public educators are teaching rather then how much money they are losing.

I take this stand point due to that all public school teachers that my brother had called him stupid. All public school teachers don't fully educate the students. The school teachers do not really follow their curiculum. (No Grammar taught in schools) So really public schools are failing Utah families, but ref. 1 provides a way for those that want more in life to take that opportunity. So thank you for rejecting opportunities to all of us.