2 of 3

"I'm not against testing, but the problem in Alabama is the test; they're comparing apples and oranges," she says, referring to rich and poor students who take the same statewide exams.

Melton fears that a federally mandated test would only worsen her school's ability to help students, especially if her school's scores were so low that the government instituted sanctions against it. Melton adamantly opposed Bush's original voucher plan, which would have awarded low-income students in Title I schools a portion of Title I money for tuition at private or religious institutions. "I have a real problem with them taking that money out to give to a private school," she says.

According to the Department of Education's Web site, Title I services are provided to 6.4 million children in more than 14,000 school districts. A department official said the average per-pupil expenditure in schools that receive Title I money is around $500.

Tax Credits and the Poor
Tuition vouchers also raise questions of possible church-state entanglement since public tax money would be funneled into private schools. The Family Research Council (FRC) endorses a separate Bush proposal to create educational tax credits for parents. Under one scenario, parents could receive an annual tax credit of up to $5,000 for money spent on educational resources, whether tuition or books.

"Politically, tax credits are the option to go with," says Erika Lestelle, the FRC's education policy analyst.

Some question the value of tax credits for the neediest students. "The poor don't pay as much in the way of taxes," says sociologist Tony Campolo, president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. "It's only those who are paying taxes that are going to benefit from this program. I see this as a great benefit to the overtaxed middle class. [But] I don't see it delivering much to the poor in society."

FRC is optimistic about another educational policy that the President supports: Educational savings accounts that would allow parents to set aside money for their child's education from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Withdrawals and interest on the savings accounts would be tax free for up to $5,000 a year, according to Bush's plan. The past two sessions of Congress have approved educational savings account proposals with $2,000 limits. But former President Clinton vetoed both bills.

"It's received bipartisan support in the past," Lestelle said. "I think this is the year."

Representatives also hope to increase other federal spending for elementary and secondary schools. House Democrats and Republicans have tentatively agreed to a 22.5 percent increase in funding for elementary and secondary schools. The President, however, says more than money is needed to prompt changes in schools.

While Melton agrees that more funding is important, the Alabama teacher says that money is not a cure-all. She supports better training and mentoring for teachers, and she believes that the best changes occur at local levels.

"When you get so far removed as Washington, D.C., there's no way they can make a great education plan for every state," she says. "That's impossible."

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

GOP pushes budget through house — Associated Press (May 9, 2001)

Senate allocates $6 billion to train teachers in poor areas — Los Angeles Times (May 9, 2001)

Budget vote may hang on education — The Boston Globe (May 9, 2001)

Senate expands Bush plan to protect teachers — Reuters (May 9, 2001)

House education bill got it wrong for some critics on the right — The Washington Post (May 6, 2001)

Bush education plan facing major changes on hill — The Washington Post (May 6, 2001)

Bush's education reform advances — Chicago Tribune (May 4, 2001)

Education bill passes key test — Associated Press (May 4, 2001)

On way to passage, Bush's education plan gets a makeover -The New York Times (May 4, 2001)

Revised education bill is unveiled — Los Angeles Times (May 4, 2001)

House panel votes to kill private school vouchers — The Washington Post (May 3, 2001)

next page... |  2 of 3

share this page

June 11 2001, Vol. 45, No. 8