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| Tuition tax breaks? By Richard Iannuzzi January 19, 2006
Gov. Pataki's proposal to give a $500 "tuition tax credit" to parents is, plain and simple, a voucher scheme. Here in New York State, we cannot afford to divert desperately needed funds away from public school classrooms in our cities and suburbs. For decades, the state has underfunded schools in New York City and other high-need, low-income areas. The decision in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case has ordered the state to increase aid to city schools to provide the resources that all the city's schoolchildren need. The governor has ignored that ruling. Yet, at the same time, his misguided voucher proposal would drain hundreds of millions of dollars from education. Vouchers are bad education policy and bad public policy. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has already questioned whether the governor's proposal would violate our state Constitution. But constitutional questions aside, vouchers still open a dangerous door. If we open that door, we can't be sure who would be allowed to walk through. The state would be forced to determine what is and what is not acceptable private and/or religious study. The voucher movement undermines the accountability and higher standards we demand of our public schools. Unlike private and religious schools, public schools hire only certified teachers. Private schools' records are private, but the financial records of public schools are open and transparent; we know where the tax dollars go. While private schools may accept or reject any student they wish, public schools must accept all students. And, unlike private schools, public schools provide comprehensive services for children with learning or physical disabilities. New York must invest more in strengthening public education, fostering democracy and helping all children to improve. The governor's tax credit scheme may play well in Peoria, but in New York, it's just another three-card monte game designed to distract New Yorkers from the failure to develop real, practical answers to the problems facing our schools. Iannuzzi is president of New York State United Teachers. NYSUT, the largest union in New York state, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. RELATED STORY Governor's tax credit plan is vouchers in disguise |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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