They may not be able to pass certification exams, but government teachers aren’t stupid. They know government schools stink, at least urban ones, so they send their kids to private schools. But they don’t want you to have similar choices. If you want an abortion, however, that’s a different story.
Here’s an interesting article in the Arizona Republic that’s supposed to be “news”, but I think it’s common knowledge:
Teachers in urban public schools send their own children to private schools at nearly double the national rate of private-school attendance, according to a new study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute in Washington, D.C.Nationwide, 12.2 percent of all families in urban, rural and suburban settings send their children to private schools. But 21.5 percent of urban public-school teachers send their children to private schools.
Now who didn’t know that? Raise your hands. I’ll bet if I conducted a study of teachers’ unions, I’d find a greater percentage of teachers who wouldn’t let their children be caught dead in government schools.
Now get this:
The study’s authors came to several conclusions why urban public-school teachers send their children to private schools at a higher rate, including the fact that teachers are generally conservative and have long been discerning connoisseurs of education. [My emphasis]
Get it? We’re supposed to believe such teachers are conservative. Notice that “conservative” in this context is a positive quality. Meanwhile your kids are being treated to “liberal” cucumbers and food-flavored condoms. OK.
Casey Lartigue, a former education policy analyst at the Cato Institute, surveyed members of the D.C. Council to find out how many sent their kids to private schools. If you guessed that politicians who oppose school choice opt for private schools, you’re correct.
The Heritage Foundation conducted a study of members of Congress looking for the same information. Although we can intuit the results, it’s necessary to measure these things. Guess what they found?
In 2003, The Heritage Foundation conducted an anonymous survey of Members of Congress to determine how many practice private school choice. The results of the survey show that private school choice continues to be an important option for these elected leaders. (See Table 2.) It also remains a popular option for Members who serve on committees with jurisdiction over education legislation as well as those who represent minority populations.
President Bush’s D.C. voucher plan was finally passed, but Democrats in Congress fought it as if their lives depended on it. If you’ve got teachers’ unions (contributing millions to Democratic candidates) breathing down your neck, your political life might depend on it.
Class dismissed!
