Return to Introduction

Footnotes

1. The following is a list of the most prominent of these national reports on education in the United States: Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need to Know and Be Able to Do, Educational Equality Project, The College Board, May 1983; Action for Excellence: A Comprehensive Plan to Improve Our Nation's Schools, Taskforce on Education for Economic Growth, Education Commission of the States, May 1983; America's Competitive Challenge: The Need for A National Response, A Report to the President of the United States from the Business-Higher Education Forum, April 1983; A National at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform, The National Commission on Excellence in Education, April 1983. There are several others as well which were produced during the same time period. For a critical discussion of these reports see The Great School Debate, edited by Beatrice and Ronald Gross (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985)

2. Ibid p. 5

3. A recent survey conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that 88% of African Americans were in favor of education choice plans that include public and private schools, with the highest support (95%) coming from families that earn less than $15,000 per year. A poll conducted by Gallup showed similar results with 77% of the African American respondents expressing support. See Oakland Tribune, November 2, 1992.

4. In part, Horrace Mann argued in favor of secularism to avoid the charge that public schools were biased in favor of a particular religion. Mann also believed that schools must play a role in forming a common national culture which he viewed as essential given the continuous influx of immigrants to the U.S. See Curti, Merle, The Social Ideals of American Educators (Totowa, New Jersey: Littlefield Adams and Co., 1968) p. 119

5. For a discussion of the expansion of educational opportunities in the south and the role of reconstruction era governments see Duboise, W.E.B. "Reconstruction and Its Benefits" in The American Historical Review, (XV, July, 1910) p. 781-799.

6. For a discussion of the aspirations of black migrants from the south toward education in urban areas during the 1950s and '60s see Conant, J. Slums and Suburbs (New York: Mc Graw Hill Book Co., 1961) p. 7 - 32. Also see Leman, N. The Promised Land (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1991) p. 309

7. In addition to the school voucher proposals there have been a variety of private school subsidy proposals which have aimed at reducing the cost of private school tuition. For a discussion of these see "What if Government Subsidies are Legislated" by D. Frey in Why We Still Need Public Schools edited by Art Must Jr. (Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometeus Books, 1992) p. 192-201.

8. During his campaign for the presidency, Clinton expressed support for school choice limited to public schools, a plan he supported and implemented in the state of Arkansas. For a discussion of the Clinton administration's views on school choice and other reform initiatives see Ed Source, May 1992 (Menlo Park, CA: Ed Source, Inc. 525 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025)

9. In a report from the Association of California Public School Superintendents, Charlie Binderup, the President of the Association, issued the following warning: "As public school superintendents we've faced some hard times and dealt with tough problems. We're now faced with our most difficult threats ever: an initiative that would provide vouchers for pupils to attend private schools...Even if not one student transfers from public schools to private it would cost 1.5 billion to provide vouchers to the 531,000 pupils currently attending private schools in the state." (ACSA Report, January 17, 1992)

10. Student enrollment in the state of California is estimated to increase at a rate of 200,000 per year. 90% of those students will attend public schools. See Ed Source, November 1991, 525 Middlefield Rd., Suite 100, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

11. In 1991 California's student population was 45.6% white, 34.4% Hispanic, 10.6% Asian, 8.6% African American, 0.8% Native American. Of these students approximately one third speak a language other than English. See Ed Source, Nov. 1991.

12. Throughout the country the number of children living in poverty has increased substantially. Over twenty percent of all American children live in poverty. Many of these children, and others who do not fall below the poverty line, lack health insurance, decent housing and adequate shelter. For a discussion of trends in child poverty see Phillips, K. The Politics of Rich and Poor (New York: Random House, 1990) p. 201 205

13. In 1991 25 school districts across the state filed either "negative certifications (meaning that they were not able to meet their financial obligations) or "qualified certifications" (meaning the district will not meet its financial obligations unless they receive some form of relief either from contracts negotiated with unions or from deferred payments to creditors) with the California Department of Education. See Ed Source, September 1991.

14. Using private universities and preparatory schools as a model, Alexander Astin makes a similar argument with regard to the effect choice and voucher programs are likely to have upon access by poor parents to elite schools. See Astin, A. "Educational "Choice" Its Appeal May Be Illusory" in Sociology of Education, October 1992 (Washington D.C.: American Sociological Association)

15. For a critique of school choice proposals and a discussion of issues related to student access see Astin, Alexander "Educational "Choice": Its Appeal May Be Illusory" in Sociology of Education, October 1992 Vol. 65, No. 4

16. For a discussion of some of the compelling arguments in favor of see Chubb, J. and Moe, T. Politics Markets and America's Schools (Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, 1990) p. 215 - 225.

17. For a discussion of the possible impact of school vouchers under a privatization scheme on school integration see Fege, A. "Private School Vouchers: Separate and Unequal" in Why We Still Need Public Schools edited by Must, A.

18. According to the Gallup poll sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association 70% of those interviewed expressed support for a government funded voucher system that would enable parents to send their children to public, private or parochial schools. See Education Week September 23, 1992.

19. The states with the most comprehensive choice systems are: Minesota, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Washington, Iowa and Nebraska. These programs limit choice to public schools however.

20. For a discussion of public school choice as a school reform option see Willie, C. and Alves, M. "A Report on the Implementation of the Revised Boston 'Controlled Choice' Plan" (A Report Submitted to Boston Public School Committee, March 3, 1993). Also see Meier, D. "Choice Can Save Public Education" in The Nation, (New York: The Nation Inc. 72 Fifth Ave., N.Y.March 4 1991).

21. For a discussion of current school reform efforts that are being implemented in a variety of school districts across the United States see Fiske, E. Smart Schools, Smart Kids Why Do Some Schools Work? (New York: Touchstone Book, 1992)

22. For a description of the Charter Schools legislation that has been developed in the State of California see Amsler, Mary Charter Schools in Policy Briefs (San Francisco, CA: Far West Laboratory, No. 19, 1992)

23. For a critique of school reform efforts initiated by experts and university-based researchers, see Saranson, S. The Culture of the School and the Problem of Change (New Haven, Ct.: Yale University Press, 1969)

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