Articles

• The Standards Movement and High-Stakes Testing

• Charter Schools

• Vouchers

The Standards Movement

The Education Standards Movement Spells Trouble for Private and Home Schools
copyright 2001 Cathy Duffy

In Kansas, school board members were labeled right-wing radicals in 1999 when they voted to NOT include questions on macro-evolution in state tests. Teachers were not forbidden to teach macro-evolution, but it wouldn’t be included in a standards-based test. Evolutionists viewed the decision as a challenge to the very fundamentals of science education. Adrian Melott, a University of Kansas physics professor told the board, “I see this as an attack on science in general, not just biology.” 

CEJ and the Kansas School Board members appear to have little in common on the surface. But their respective battles over testing and standards are merely the tip of the iceberg, illustrating just a few of the problems stemming from school reform efforts centered around development of national standards and high-stakes testing. Problems for private and homeschools promise to be even worse....more>

 

Charter Schools Articles

Charter Schools pose significant problems for Christian homeschoolers. The following papers address these issues from the context of California state law. However, the principles remain the same in other states.

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Charter Schools 
by Mary Schofield, Private Consultant
copyright 1994 Mary Schofield

[note: this is the foundational article. Read this before reading "An Updated Look at Charter Schools."]

"Many home educators have heard about charter schools. We receive numerous calls from parents who are considering enrolling in a charter school, as well as from home education leaders attempting to field questions from their group members. Most of the callers have received information which was misleading or inaccurate." ...more>

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An Updated Look at Charter Schools
by Mary Schofield
copyright 1998 Mary Schofield

"This paper is intended as an addendum to my 1994 paper, 'Charter Schools.'  That paper was written during the first year of charter schools’ existence.  Since then, new regulations and laws have been enacted to clarify some of the confusion over charter schools and to tighten the state’s control, especially in the area of finances. Please read the original 1994 paper before this one, to get an overall picture of the charter school movement."....more>

Vouchers

Vouchers: Another Name for Welfare
by Lew Rockwell

"By now, I’ve received a dozen or so press releases from editorialists and institutions proclaiming the Supreme Court decision "Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, et al. v. Simmons-Harris et al." (argued Feb. 20, 2002-June 27, 2002) as the greatest step toward liberty in our time. Oh sure."...more>

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Hijacking the Voucher Movement

Conservatives are going to wake up one morning to discover that they've won the battle and lost the war over vouchers. Unable to stem the continuing decline of our government schools in spite of hard-fought (and many victorious) battles over condoms, health texts, the Pledge of Allegiance, and phonics, many conservatives have chosen to rally behind the banner of school choice, better known as vouchers. Voucher proponents have predicted that the "free market" competition resulting from vouchers will improve government schools and simultaneously "break the back of the unions." ...more>

 

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What about tax-funded vouchers, tax credits, and charter schools?

This is a web page at the Alliance for the Separation of School & State website. It describes and links to the best collection of articles on these topics....go>

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The following articles relate specifically to a voucher initiative that failed to pass in California in 2000. However, the principles raised apply to most other government-funded voucher proposals.

Proposition 38: Problems for Both Traditional Private Schools and Homeschools

Prepared by Cathy Duffy

"Many good people are taking a pro-voucher position before really examining the issue thoroughly. There seems to be an assumption here in California that all conservatives will be for this, and that the only opposition will be coming from the CTA and their supporters.  Not so! Voters should look long and hard before signing onto this initiative with its long-term dangers for traditional private religious schools and, particularly, for private homeschoolers."

Short version (2 pages)

Full version (4 pages)