There is nothing that highlights the differences between liberals and conservatives so much as the debate on school vouchers- school choice. However, John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, likes to eschew conventional labels. Instead, Tillman talks about his organization emphasizing liberty and free market principles. He then applies those principles to social problems and takes those applications to their logical conclusions, wherever that may be.
Parents currently locked into failing public schools.
Tillman argues that "parents [currently] are locked into failing public schools if they don't have the income to- opt out by paying both property taxes (thru rent or home ownership) and then paying tuition as well." But, from "a social justice point of view," the zip code you are borne into shouldn't determine whether you have a fair shot at a good education.
Who is on the side of social justice? Tillman and Rev./Senator Meeks?
That's interesting, Tillman, who others might characterize as a conservative because of his belief in the efficacy of free markets, is arguing he is on the side of "social justice," not exactly a rallying cry for conservatives. And, look, Tillman has formed what Dan Proft would call some non-traditional alliances. For example, the Illinois Policy Institute's keynote speaker at a recent forum on school vouchers-school choice was Rev. [and State Senator] James Meeks, an "independent [from the south side of Chicago]," who caucuses with the Democrats.
Tillman said a few weeks ago:
What I am excited about is that Rev. [Sen.] Meeks has recognized that the way to help people in his district is by giving parents more choice over the educational choices for their children. One of the best tools to do that that frees children to pick the best school in their own interest is vouchers and [Rev. Meeks] has embraced that and we think that's an exciting turn in the public policy debate on educational reform. John Tillman on "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," recorded on January 31, 2010.
Ralph Martire, a liberal and Executive Director of the Center for Budget and Tax Accountability, contends the evidence shows vouchers don't work. He cites, for example, to a federal government funded research study that Martire contends supports his view. However, Martire's favorite study to cite on education simply compares private and public schools, it doesn't study the impact of school vouchers.
Peer reviewed credible studies on school vouchers
Moreover, Tillman says that Martire is wrong and that there are many studies that demonstrate that vouchers work well. Tillman argues that based on all the peer reviewed credible studies on vouchers, they work extremely well. In short, Tillman believes that choice improves outcomes. That's true with charter schools and school vouchers.
When consumers have choices, they can benefit from competition, resulting in more efficiency and innovation. Producers, in this case schools, offer improved quality and services, and at lower prices. In response to Martire's argument that school vouchers don't work, Tillman said if that is the case, people wouldn't use the vouchers, that is, they would simply stay in the public schools, so "what do we have to lose by trying school vouchers? What, indeed?
President Obama: The audacity of hypocrisy on school vouchers
School Choice is a social justice issue, argues Tillman, because vouchers give low-income parents analogous options in their educational choice to those of the wealthy. For example, the Obamas sent their two daughters to the University of Chicago Lab School (about 15 K per kid per year, but the Obamas may have received a discount due to their association with the University of Chicago) when the Obamas lived in Hyde Park. Now the Obamas send their daughters to the exclusive Sidwell Friends school in Washington, DC (28 K per kid per year)
Yet, Tillman noted that President Obama has endorsed the closing of a voucher program in DC that benefited kids going to the very same school as his children were attending. Tillman called that hypocritical. And, Tillman seems to have a point. Why should the Obamas have the opportunity to opt out of non-performing public schools, as they did in Chicago and now do in Washington, DC and yet President Obama not only does not encourage giving similar options to low income parents, he has his Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, help terminate a school voucher program that Duncan concedes has been improving the education choices of low income, minority parents.
Watch Tillman tonight on Cable in Chicago or streaming
To learn more about the answers to those and other public policy questions, watch "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring our guest, John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, airing tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 throughout the City of Chicago. You can also watch the program on your computer. To read more about John Tillman and whether Illinois can prosper without a tax increase, please go here.
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Tags: and Senator Meeks, Barack Obama, hypocrisy, Michele Obama, Rev, School vouchers-school choice
