Wednesday, February 4, 1998
Business group backs voucher movement
By PEGGY FIKAC / Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN (AP) -- Small business owners who say they have trouble finding qualified workers are putting their muscle behind a group that advocates taxpayer-funded private school tuition vouchers for students who can't otherwise leave low-performing public schools.
"Maybe it's time to shake things up just a little bit so we can get a system that creates kids coming out of high school who have the minimum qualifications to enter the workforce," said Robert Howden, director of the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business.
The 40,000-member business group previously supported initiatives of the pro-voucher Putting Children First, but the issue will be a priority in the 1999 legislative session, Howden said Tuesday.
The group will actively lobby for school choice and have its members contact local lawmakers, he said, citing a survey of members showing support for a voucher system.
A big businessman -- from outside Texas -- also is supporting the effort, according to the January report of Putting Children First's political action committee, which was formed in September.
The report shows $100,000 of $100,190 raised came from John Walton of Arkansas, of the Wal-Mart family.
"This report confirms that the voucher effort isn't about helping children. In fact, the voucher movement is financed by wealthy out-of-state donors who want to privatize Texas public schools," said Cecile Richards of the anti-voucher Texas Freedom Network.
"Texans don't need out-of-state millionaires to determine who serves in the Capitol," she said.
Putting Children First Chairman Jimmy Mansour said, "John Walton has a number of business concerns in a number of states. ... His interest in choice is not limited to kids of a certain city or of a certain state."
Howden said an unscientific poll of his group answered by 3,200 members found:
-- 68.6 percent said yes when asked, "Should legislation be adopted to establish a school voucher system to allow parents to choose which school, public or private, their children will attend?"
-- 54.7 percent said no when asked whether high school graduates they hire have basic skills needed for entry-level work.
-- 19 percent identified finding qualified workers as the biggest barrier to small business growth.
Don Summers, owner of Austin Welder and Generator Service, said, "I desperately need young people to train, but I can't train them if the schools don't give them the foundation. I can't build on zero."
Wanda Chandler Rohm, owner of a San Antonio printing shop and a former teacher, added, "I have seen ... the whole realm of education as a teacher, a mother and an employer. I really feel we need some super changes in the education system."
Critics contend a voucher program would take dollars from public schools, hurting the majority of children who remain in them. They say the answer is to continue working to help public schools.
"Business leaders in every Texas community are working to strengthen their neighborhood public schools ... Those involved business leaders are part of the solution, not part of the problem" said Carolyn Boyle of the Coalition for Public Schools, whose members include educator, religious and civil liberties groups.
"Some businessmen are promoting vouchers because they want to open for-profit private schools, and they need tax funds to help them make a buck," she added.
http://www.texnews.com/1998/texas/voucher0204.html