Vouchers: The Educational Ides of March
In Shakespeare’s tragic play “Julius Caesar,” a soothsayer warns the titular character to “Beware the Ides of March.” The Ides of March, March 15th, holds historical significance as the day Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of conspirators in 44 BCE. This phrase has since become a cultural shorthand for a warning of impending danger or a looming threat. As we examine the current state of school voucher programs in the United States, it becomes increasingly clear that we, too, should heed a similar warning: “Beware the Educational Ides of March.”
School voucher programs, which allocate taxpayer funds to allow students to attend private schools, have been touted as a means of providing greater educational choice and opportunities. However, upon closer inspection, these programs reveal a disturbing lack of oversight and accountability, much like the hidden agendas and ulterior motives of those who conspired against Julius Caesar. Just as the soothsayer’s warning went unheeded, leading to Caesar’s downfall, we must not ignore the red flags surrounding school voucher programs, lest we find ourselves facing dire consequences for our students and our education system as a whole.
The Downfall of Oversight
The article that brought this issue to my attention highlights a troubling case in North Carolina, where a charter school, faced with an order to shut down, simply reinvented itself as a private school. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lack of oversight and accountability in the education system, particularly when it comes to voucher programs.
Charter schools, whilst operating with more flexibility than traditional public schools, are still subject to some level of accountability. They require an authoriser to sign off on their ability to function, and these authorisers are ultimately answerable to the state. This means that even in states with relatively lenient regulations, like North Carolina, a charter school can be shut down if it fails to meet certain standards. However, this bare minimum level of oversight is still more than what is typically found in voucher programs.
In most states, voucher programs operate with little to no accountability measures in place. The article notes that in West Virginia, for example, becoming a voucher “service provider” is a shockingly simple process. Providers need only sign a contract agreeing to conduct background checks on staff and notify districts when they enroll students. To receive funds, they merely submit a W-9 form and document the funds received from parents. This lack of oversight leaves the door wide open for potential abuse and misuse of taxpayer dollars, with little to no recourse for addressing such issues.
The Betrayal of Education
The lack of oversight and accountability in voucher programs is not merely an oversight; it is a deliberate choice made by those crafting and expanding these laws. Recent voucher legislation and expansions often include language that expressly forbids the implementation of oversight and accountability measures. This is a clear and intentional betrayal of the fundamental principles upon which our education system is built.
Education is meant to be a great equaliser, providing opportunities for all students to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, by allowing voucher programs to operate without proper oversight, we are betraying this core principle. We are essentially telling our students that their education is not a priority, and that the quality of their learning experiences is less important than providing churches and businesses with access to taxpayer funds.
This betrayal of our education system is akin to the betrayal of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March. Just as Caesar’s trust was betrayed by those closest to him, leading to his downfall, our trust in the education system is being betrayed by those who should be its most ardent defenders. The conspirators in Shakespeare’s play acted with their own interests in mind, disregarding the greater good of Rome. Similarly, those who push for voucher programs without proper oversight are acting with their own agendas in mind, disregarding the best interests of our students and our society as a whole.
By allowing this betrayal to continue unchecked, we are setting ourselves up for a future in which the quality of education is determined not by the needs of our students, but by the whims of those who seek to profit from the system. We must recognise this betrayal for what it is and take action to ensure that our education system remains true to its principles, rather than falling victim to the machinations of those who would see it undermined for their own gain.
The True Agenda
In his article, Greene argues that the true agenda behind voucher programs is not to provide students with access to quality education, but rather to give churches and businesses a way to tap into taxpayer dollars. This hidden motive is reminiscent of the conspirators’ ulterior motives in the assassination of Julius Caesar, where personal gain and power were prioritised over the well-being of the Roman Republic.
The comparison between the voucher program agenda and the conspirators’ motives in Julius Caesar is particularly apt when we consider the fascist elements at play. Fascist ideologies often involve the infiltration of government boards and agencies by corporate interests, leading to policies that benefit the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the poor and marginalised. This is precisely what we see happening with voucher programs.
By allowing churches and businesses to access taxpayer funds through voucher programs, we are essentially subsidising these entities with public money, often with little to no accountability for how that money is spent. This siphoning of public funds into private pockets is a hallmark of fascist economic policies, which prioritise the interests of the elite over the needs of the general population.
Moreover, the lack of oversight and accountability in voucher programs disproportionately impacts the poor and marginalised communities who are most in need of quality education. These communities often lack the resources and political clout to advocate for their interests, making them easy targets for those who would exploit the system for their own gain. By allowing voucher programs to operate without proper safeguards, we are effectively abandoning these communities and perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality.
It is crucial that we recognise the fascist elements at work in the voucher program agenda and take steps to combat them. We must demand transparency, oversight, and accountability in all aspects of our education system, and we must be vigilant in defending the principle of education as a public good, not a private commodity to be exploited for profit. Only by standing firm against the encroachment of corporate interests and fascist ideologies can we hope to build an education system that truly serves the needs of all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.
The Consequences of Inaction
The consequences of allowing voucher programs to continue without proper oversight and accountability are dire and far-reaching. If we fail to heed the warning signs and address these issues, we risk causing irreparable harm to our students, our education system, and our society. The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), which examines how power imbalances and threats can impact individuals and communities, provides a useful lens for exploring these potential consequences.
One of the key aspects of the PTMF is the recognition that power imbalances can create a sense of threat and insecurity, particularly among marginalised and disadvantaged communities. In the context of voucher programs, the lack of oversight and accountability creates a power imbalance between those who control the funds (churches, businesses, and other private entities) and those who rely on those funds for their education (students and families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds). This power imbalance leaves students and families vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as they have little recourse if the education they receive is subpar or if funds are misused.
Moreover, the PTMF highlights how threats to one’s sense of safety, identity, and meaning can have profound impacts on mental health and well-being. For students who are already struggling with poverty, discrimination, or other challenges, the added threat of a substandard education or a school environment that prioritises profit over learning can be deeply traumatic. These experiences can lead to disengagement from education, reduced academic achievement, and a host of negative long-term outcomes, including limited job prospects and a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
At a systemic level, the consequences of allowing voucher programs to continue unchecked are equally alarming. By eroding the principle of education as a public good and siphoning funds away from public schools, we risk creating a two-tiered education system in which the wealthy and privileged have access to high-quality private schools, while the poor and marginalised are left with underfunded and underperforming public schools. This kind of educational apartheid is a recipe for social unrest, economic inequality, and a weakening of the very foundations of our democracy.
Like the characters in Shakespeare’s play who ignored the soothsayer’s warning, we do so at our own peril. The consequences of inaction on voucher program oversight and accountability are not some distant specter, but a clear and present danger to our students, our schools, and our society. We must act now to demand transparency, oversight, and accountability in all aspects of our education system, before it is too late. Only by confronting these issues head-on and standing firm in our commitment to education as a fundamental human right can we hope to build a future in which all students have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Final thoughts
As we have seen, the lack of oversight and accountability in voucher programs poses a significant threat to the integrity of our education system and the well-being of our students. The warning signs are clear, and we must heed them before it is too late. Just as the soothsayer’s warning to Julius Caesar went unheeded, leading to his tragic downfall, we must not ignore the red flags surrounding voucher programs, lest we find ourselves facing equally dire consequences.
The stakes could not be higher. Our education system is the foundation upon which our society is built, and the quality of education our students receive today will determine the course of our future. If we allow voucher programs to continue operating without proper safeguards, we risk not only undermining the principle of education as a public good but also perpetuating a cycle of inequality and injustice that will have ripple effects for generations to come.
It is time for us to take a stand. We must demand transparency, oversight, and accountability in all aspects of our education system, including voucher programs. We must insist that our elected officials prioritise the needs of students and families over the interests of churches, businesses, and other private entities. We must be vigilant in defending the principle of education as a fundamental human right, not a commodity to be bought and sold to the highest bidder.
This is not a partisan issue, but a moral imperative. Regardless of our political affiliations or ideological beliefs, we all have a stake in ensuring that our education system is strong, equitable, and accountable. We must work together to build a future in which all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the high-quality education they need to succeed in life.
So let us heed the warning of the educational Ides of March, and let us act now to prevent this tragedy from unfolding. Let us stand together in our commitment to education as a public good and a cornerstone of our democracy. Let us fight for the oversight and accountability that our students deserve, and let us build a future in which every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. The time for action is now, and the stakes could not be higher. Will you join the fight?