Utah voters yesterday shot down what would have been the nation’s first statewide school voucher program. Read more in this AP story.

The program would have provided tax dollars for private tuition, no matter family income or whether kids were in bad schools.

In 2000, voters in Michigan and California also defeated efforts to subsidize private schools.

Since 1972, there have been 10 state referendums on various voucher programs, according to
the National School Boards Association. All of the referendums – by the way – have been unsuccessful.

Edward J. McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers, issued the following statement: “Utah voters have underscored America’s unwavering support for public education. Vouchers
weaken the public schools, which serve the vast majority of our nation’s children. Clearly, Utah’s voters took a look at the facts and chose to support the success of their students over the misleading claims of vouchers proponents.”

What are your thoughts on universal vouchers? Doesn’t it defeat the purpose if vouchers are given to the rich? How is that evening the playing field? And isn’t it a slap in the face for schools that are not failing to have students leave and go to the “greener pastures” of private schools?