John McCain on Education

John McCain is going to be the Republican presidential candidate in the 2008 election.  Much like the websites for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, his website doesn’t really talk about specifics.  There were a few things I noticed him talking about that the Democratic candidates haven’t mentioned. 

• He thinks parents should be able to choose what school their child attends, especially if the schools that would normally be available to the child are substandard.
• Well, this is nice in theory.  However, why would we send students to other schools?  Why not just improve all of the schools so there isn’t a need for a voucher system?  If private schools are doing it so much better then get rid of public schools and pay the private schools.  If we are going to fund a public school system then, dang it, do it right so we don’t have to fund the private schools too.
• He includes home schooling in the options for people who don’t want to go to ‘bad’ public schools.
• I like home schooling.  I have no problem with that at all, in fact I’m seriously considering homeschooling my own children.  However, that is a personal choice and I don’t think tax payers should fund it.  Fix the problem or get rid of the problem not fund every other solution to it. 
• I wouldn’t mind a tax break if I chose to homeschool or send my child to a private school, however.
• He wants to change the educational system.  His website says the current system is:

"…a system that still seeks to avoid genuine accountability and responsibility for producing well-educated children.

John McCain will place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. He believes all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools."

Again I come back to if it is so bad then work at fixing it or get rid of it.  It seems silly to me to maintain funding for something that isn’t working.  Fix the public schools and don’t throw money at private schools or get rid of the public schools and let the private sector work it out.

Wow, I’m getting a little more worked up than I thought I would for this particular candidate!  If you want to read more about John McCain’s thoughts on education you can go here.  Tell me what you think about this part of McCain’s education policy.  How do you feel about parental choice in schools?  Is there a better way to fix the problems schools are having?