We've seen what spending more money on public schools have done. Nothing. I grew up in Oakland. I saw plenty of poor minority kids go to failing schools because they have no other option while rich kids go to any school they choose while their parents argue against school choice. So I saw this in general, not as a direct attack at you tekkychick, but it's anti-religion bullshit over giving poor minority students.
So many ways to discuss this.
Are there bad public schools in our country? Absolutely. And there are wonderful ones. And there are middle-of-road-ones. We need to work on continuing to improve the bad ones, while not undercutting the good ones by removing money from them.
Our free public schools is one of the foundations of our country; they've worked well for us. Get rid of them, and you end up with a lot of inequality, where only rich kids learn to read. I know you're saying "no, don't get rid of them - just add the voucher option" but over time, this will lead to school only if you can afford it.
Are there great private schools? Sure! let's send everyone to The Athenian in the bay area - it's only $26K+ for middle school; $33K plus for high school. Will the vouchers cover that? I DON'T THINK SO. oh and they don't have room for everyone anyway. Public schools have to make room for everyone. Private schools don't.
Let's talk about these religious schools. Why should my tax dollars go to pay a Catholic school - that doesn't pay taxes - to teach kids about the Catholic religion? I wouldn't want my taxes going to a Madrasa either.
If a religious school DOES get tax money from vouchers - it damn well better follow state guidelines in education. That means no creationism; real science; no proselytizing. What religious school would want that kind of interference with its curriculum?
Let's keep working on improving the public schools. Charter schools aren't any better than public schools, overall. If we start using vouchers to send kids to private schools, I can just imagine the corporate greed that will start arising around that...