Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for September 15, 2006 SURVEY SAYS...

Well, we don't know yet...it's still a "work in progress".

Our conservative, anti-public education "friends" at IL Loop are marshaling their troops to make the survey reflect their views. Nothing unAmerican there...ALL interest groups and political parties are regular practitioners of this "art".

If you want to see what it's about...or even participate in the poll...check out the link below.

From the IL Loop...

The Pioneer Press is running an online poll on Illinois schools. Polls like this are not scientific, but since they get reported anyway, it's important that your views are registered. When you complete this poll, please consider:

1) Since funding is not the principal problem with Illinois schools, more spending will not provide the solution. By focusing only on spending, politicians are ignoring consideration of the real problems and thus delaying real solutions.

2) A constructivist, progressivist philosophy of education is inappropriate for many or most children. Parents must have the opportunity to choose the right school for their children. If bureaucrats refuse to provide this option at least through charters, then the case is made stronger for student-centered funding through vouchers.

Among the questions in the Pioneer Press poll:

- Would you support a voucher plan to allow for school choice?

- Should more charter schools be allowed?

- Should the federal government do more to support local public education or leave it a local issue?

One question about a "tax swap" is not well written, so weigh your answers carefully: They ask about whether you might favor a "tax swap", exchanging lower property taxes for higher sales taxes. But this fails to note that all existing proposals that have been made under the banner of "tax swap" would raise some taxes far more than they would decrease property taxes, for a net tax hike (without any concessions to restore substance in schools).

To fill out the Pioneer Press survey:

- Go to their main web page http://www.pioneerlocal.com/

- Scroll down to the blue box labelled "Poll: Education funding"

Kevin Killion