[foogazi]

Private schools already exist, why does private enterprise need the government’s help ?

Besides people already pay for public schools all the time by moving to an area with “good schools”. So the answer is to adequately fund public schools.

It’s a distributive effect of the social safety net

[kelipso]

Currently, your property tax (well, the property tax of everyone in your administrative district) pays for your local public schools. Consider this as school tuition.

But this disincentives people from sending their kids to private schools since they would then be paying tuition twice, once via property tax to the local public school and second to the private school.

One solution is school vouchers where you use the property tax money for the private school tuition. Makes the public schools compete fairly with the private schools and allows not so well off folks to send their kids to private schools if they want.

Should I as a parent be forced to send my kids to a shitty school because of where I am residing and my lack of wealth?

[foogazi]

> But this disincentives people from sending their kids to private schools since they would then be paying tuition twice, once via property tax to the local public school and second to the private school.

Why does the funding-type of the schools matter?

Does a public police force disincentivize people from hiring private security body-guards?

I’m not a criminal I don’t need police to be following me around, checking my speed on the highway

Do I need a private security voucher ?

[kelipso]

> Does a public police force disincentivize people from hiring private security body-guards?

Yes of course, but you are asking if you need private security for everyone using vouchers. We as a society have decided that having police is better for society instead of private security vouchers due to various reasons.

However, this question for schools remain open.

(Also, did I say the funding type of the schools matter? That’s a different discussion.)

The question remains open because different schools provide different types and quality of education (good schools, bad schools, religious schools, schools focused on science or arts, schools with different teaching methods, schools with gang violence, etc). Therefore, parents should be able to choose the schools they send their kids to despite their circumstances, and we as a society should enable them that choice.

My statement was about incentives for parents. If you want to enable parents the choices, one way to improve the incentives is school vouchers.

[foogazi]

> Therefore, parents should be able to choose the schools they send their kids to despite their circumstances, and we as a society should enable them that choice.

I don't think you clearly explained why they can't already choose.

People vote with their wallets and their feet all the time.

At what price should "we as a society" enable parents to send their kids to any school they want ?

[kelipso]

They can, if they have the money, which not everyone does. More people can, if they are given school vouchers. The price is less corresponding funding for public schools per student that chooses the school voucher.

So we are looking at more parents being able to choose schools vs less corresponding funding for public schools. I think it’s worth it to go for vouchers, two advantages being it gives parents choice, and it makes schools compete in a market.