IEA and Private Education

Today, I was fortunate to take part in a rally in our state capital. I joined about 15 thousand people as we marched to bring attention to the plight of public education funding in the State of Illinois. Our state is looking at 20,000 teachers without jobs next year. That equates to a huge effect on the children of our state. There are many things at work...priorities, a true lack of revenue, politics... it reads like a novel.

Two State Representatives took time to speak with IEA Region 14 participants. Representative Keith Sommers and Representative Dan Brady both represent the areas our schools encompass. There were several talking points that supported IEA's stances, and it sounded like the bills for these issues were not going too far at present. Our state legislature has decided to slow itself to almost a halt until we see who the Governor will be in November.

While in Representative Brady's office, a topic came up that makes my blood pressure rise: school vouchers. Now, please understand I oppose school vouchers, but not for the reasons IEA opposes them. I oppose them because with money comes the idea of control. The more state money is involved, the more the state will try to micromanage private schools like they have public education. I know the money would be great, but at what price?

The topic came up as to whether Dan was opposed to a voucher system. The question was obviously planned, as the askers knew that Dan is in the same situation I am in: we chose Catholic school for our older children, but we could not choose it for our younger children, who are diagnosed on the autism spectrum. So, we have one foot in the "private" sector, and one foot in the "public" sector. Dan indicated that he was not interested in the bill on vouchers as it was affecting schools in Chicago. But the question persisted, even though the same answer was given. THEN the floodgates seemed to open and I had a really hard time keeping my mouth shut.

The main points that seemed to be surfacing were that, if private schools wanted public money, then "shouldn't they have to adhere to the same high certification standards that public school teachers do?" Shouldn't they have to be "highly qualified?" "They" always seem to need the public schools for special services, so aren't "they" already getting "benefits" of public education? Now, my IEA camrades, here is where we part ideology.

I pay taxes. And I chose to pay tuition for my son to go to a Catholic school. That is my right, the exercise of my religion, the choice to educate my son in whatever way I see fit. I want my son in an environment that allows for him to talk about God and things of God with the adults that work there. I want each subject he is taught to have the opportunity for a discussion of faith and what we believe as a family to be right or wrong, as opposed to the moral relativism that runs rampant in our society.

My son's school had already gotten some money from the State of Illinois: it is part of the Textbook Loan Program; we received reimbursement for having to transport him to and from school each day; we are able to claim the tuition on our state taxes; the list goes on. So Catholic schools "getting" money from the government is not new. But now, it has all been cut, just like everyone else's state funding.

My older son is on the autism spectrum. He has Asperger's. Although his school does not, in the opinion of some of my colleagues today, have special services, they do what they can. They had speakers come in to discuss accommodations for students on the spectrum. He was not diagnosed until 6th grade, but his previous teachers were caring and concerned professionals. His current teachers are open to working with us to help him in any way we can.

Teaching in the public sector and being "highly qualified" means little, and I am speaking as a person who does that and is, indeed, "highly qualified." I know plenty of teachers who look great on paper, but should not be in the classroom. They make it hard for us to maintain a positive image to the community from whom we are asking for more money. In fact, some of the greatest practices I learned in teaching happened during my first seven years of teaching, at which time I taught in a Catholic school, while making next to nothing on a pathetic salary schedule. I learned them from a teacher who had no state certification. She could teach circles around some people with whom I have taught. "Those" teachers in Catholic schools make a pittance for a salary AND if you think public school pensions look somber, you do not want to know about their pensions, or lack thereof. Since I wasn't vested after 7 years of teaching, I will get nothing for those seven years when I retire... not even the social security I paid in to. Makes it even more incredible that Catholic school teachers accomplish what they do. The argument that they "don't deal with" the same kids as the public sector is partial truth, but they have challenges none the less. Belittling a job to justify an unjust salary is a pathetic tactic. But, that's a whole 'nother story.

For my younger son, I cannot choose a Catholic school. His autism needs are greater than his brother's. I wonder if my IEA colleagues understand how hard that decision was for us as a family? I wonder if they care, or do they just want to throw a tone of voice at me (and Dan, and any others like us) as if I am in some way "milking" the system? My son gets services he deserves, and we worked tirelessly to get in place. He needs specialists that, yes, the Catholic school cannot provide, but MY tax dollars have helped pay for. So, after 8 years of investing in public education with my tax dollars and paying for other education for my sons with my own dollars, we need to rely on the public school system in our town for help. Scratch that, we are getting the help we deserve as citizens of the State of Illinois.

One last item. I am a product of Catholic schools (1st through 12th grades). I teach in a public school. I can introduce you to my friend Julia... product of Catholic schools and a public school teacher. Or how about my niece, Jennifer... product of Catholic schools and a public school teacher. And my sister-in-law, Patty... product of Catholic schools and a public school teacher. And yes, we all also taught in Catholic schools for part of our careers as well. So, would you say public education is benefiting from Catholic education?