Letter: Jindal’s ‘education reform’ flawed
I have volunteered in public schools in Louisiana and taught students in inner-city Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. I know, better than most, the failings of our public school systems and have seen their effects firsthand. These experiences have made me want to help fix our public schools, not turn the other cheek.
The purpose of reforming education is to lower education inequity by providing every student the same, high quality, and affordable education. Gov. Bobby Jindal has worked to do the exact opposite by freezing per-student aid to public schools for three years. Now his “education reform” plan will pretty much further hurt the public school system by offering vouchers for private schools.
Jindal and his supporters argue this plan will “empower” parents by giving them a choice. While some parents can take the time to apply for this voucher, most will not. Unfortunately, parents of many inner-city school children work two jobs, are single-parents and are even illiterate. This makes it extremely difficult for most to understand this process, let alone apply for it. Jindal’s plan does not reform anything. It will create an even larger gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” further perpetuating the problems associated with a failing public school system.
Laura Juengling
communications specialist
Baton Rouge