The Many Faces of School Vouchers

Publication Date: January 1998

Publisher: Center for Jewish Community Studies (U.S.); Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Author(s): Daniel J. Elazar

Research Area: Culture and religion; Education

Keywords: Public Schools; Jewish Identification; Day Schools; Education Financing

Type: Other

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The author argues that while the American public school used to serve as a common school for the community that advanced national goals, current public schools have become partisan and bureaucratic. He explains the underlying logic of the school voucher program, which was developed to allow private schools to benefit from public funds and provides the rationale behind the support for and opposition to the program. He argues that nowhere in the United States has the school voucher idea historically aroused more controversy and opposition than in the Jewish community. Though, the author concludes that as growing minorities of Jews are seeking alternate strategies for the education of their children, many have become supporters of the voucher plan.