There is a bill before the Ohio Legislature marked HB 290, otherwise known as the “Backpack Bill”. The state will have educational savings accounts for students who choose to join the program and that money can be used to pay for these students to be in a charter, non-chartered, public, or homeschool environment. Alternatives to traditional/public education have gained a lot of support, though they usually enjoy greater support from the Republican party. Working at a charter school, I can tell you that alternatives in education help to create conscientious and well-rounded citizens. Despite all this, I find myself strongly opposed to the proposed “Backpack Bill”.
For proponents of the “Backpack Bill” the basic argument goes something like this. Public schools have failed to educate students. Ohio’s educational approach of sending kids to their local public school is not working. Traditional schools are teaching students radical ideas about sexual identity and political ideology. By allowing parents to choose where their kids go to school we will create a more competitive learning environment that better prepares children for their future lives.
When it comes to competition between schools, Ohio does exceedingly well. According to a study found on backpackbill.com, Ohio ranks 8th out of 51 (states and D.C.) in overall educational freedom. For the record, yes, we did beat Michigan. If we already rank so high in educational freedom, we do not need another law from the government to improve school competition.
When it comes to teaching radical ideas about sexual identity and political ideology, it’s not as prevalent as you think. Nowhere in my lesson plans are the words, “America is evil and the Constitution should be shredded”. Besides, the “Backpack Bill” does not ban teaching on those subjects. You do not need to pull your child from their district, especially since they can find any of these ideas on the internet. What could you do? Talk to your child about these issues, attend school board meetings, run for school board in your community, but do not think that moving your child to a different school means they will not have to confront issues about sex or political ideology.
Look, when I teach history I talk about the horrors of slavery, the importance of the Constitution, but mostly I am just trying to give your child the ability to comprehend ideas and think critically about life. These characteristics help us become informed and caring citizens. Who would oppose that?
Public schools might be struggling in some areas, but this is not the case for most Ohioans. We are facing a crisis in this country, but it is not from our public schools. No, the crisis we face is a startling lack of community. Church attendance has fallen, participation in local rec and school sports is dipping, block parties have disappeared, and rates of volunteering and charitable giving have dropped dramatically. The “Backpack Bill” will only serve to exacerbate these issues. Kids making friends will be more difficult as well.
How often are you as a parent going to drive your child 30 minutes to spend the night at a friend’s house? How about school sporting events/practice? Probably not very often, but there is something we can do. Volunteer more. Give more. Go meet your neighbor for coffee. Encourage your kid to play sports. Vote “yes” on the next school levy to improve the district. Find your way back to the pew. Help us create a community where you are proud your kid can grow up and go to school.
David Jenkins
Bowling Green
