School Choice: Will it help or hurt our education system in South Carolina?

May 17, 2005 — Rotarians learned more about the ongoing debate of whether or not school choice is what South Carolina needs to improve our state’s education system. Sherry Street and Jon Butzon, two key players involved in this issue, discussed the SC Put Parents in Charge Act (PPIC), a bill that has gone through many forms and is now in front of the SC House Ways and Means Committee. The bill, if enacted, would allow tax credits or vouchers (based on eligibility) for qualified tuition payments to a public or independent school.

Sherry Street is a proponent for school choice, and shared examples of regions where school choice has been successful, namely Milwaukee, WI. Street claims that this is the best example of school choice at work, and the program has been in place for the past 15 years. The main point she conveyed was that school choice gives parents educational options, and gives power to those who have never had power before. She stated that African-Americans and the poor working class are usually the groups who benefit the most from school choice. She worked to dispel many myths that are a part of this debate, such as
concerns that PPIC will destroy public education, the best students will leave and leave the worst behind, and that schools will re-segregate.

Jon Butzon believes the main issue is maintaining status quo, and needing to make leaps in ways we can improve the educational system of our state. He admits the debate has become very political, and pointed out that for every example of a program that works, there is one that does not. He claims we should be looking for the public policy lesson in this issue: how are we going to make policy and are we spending enough on public education in SC? Issues include money, skill of teachers, leadership, choice, & privatization — we have lots more facts to weigh before an effective program can be crafted using either solution.

In other business. . .

Dyson Scott gave the invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Peter Lucash welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests. Margaret MacDonald offered Health & Happiness, and President Mark thanked the Adopt-A-Highway volunteers. Ted Creech and Earl Walker were recognized for their Paul Harris Fellow contributions, and President Mark congratulated
the Board on its 100% Paul Harris Fellow representation. Amy Riley kicked off the 4-Way Test special series with “Is it the Truth?” and Larry Tarleton introduced our speakers, Sherry Street and Jon Butzon.