For Separation of School and State, But Against Vouchers

[Reprinted from Issues & Views Summer 1996]

Not all opponents of the public school system believe that giving children vouchers to attend private and parochial schools is the way to go. There are some who staunchly campaign for the abolition of government schools, while contending that a publicly funded voucher system would only expand dependency on government.

These "separationists" maintain that, because so many strings would be attached to vouchers, a whole new set of problems might be generated. The most vociferous defenders of the anti-voucher position is the Separation of School and State Alliance of Fresno, California.

Here is the Alliance's separationist position as stated in a recent newsletter: "Only when we separate education from the state can educators and families be free enough to improve the system. Americans don't have a common church, common magazine, or common pizza. We don't need a common school. We must end tax-financing of schooling, repeal compulsory attendance, and stop all government mandates about curriculum and academic outcomes. We must depoliticize schools." For further information, visit The Separation of School and State Alliance on the web, or call (209) 292-1776.

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