Government Aid to Private Schools

In this publication, six scholars interested in private education and knowledgeable in economic policy and politics present several different views of government aid to private schools. In the lead essay, William Cage argues that supporters of private schooling are shortsighted in advocating public aid for private education. Government aid, says the author, would convert private schools into mirror images of public schools, for it would bring federal controls that would erode the independence of private schools. Five essays respond to the lead essay. Robert J. Staaf presents two views of the possible consequences of a voucher system or tax credit or tax deduction. Eugenia F. Toma describes the actions government bureaucracies might take in creating controls over private schools. E. G. West suggests that the promotion of a better competitive balance between schools should be pursued by restoring "pricing" (or modest tuition) to the public schools. Richard E. Wagner argues that tax deductions and credits are categorically distinct from such policies as vouchers and direct aid and that deductions can be of great value in strengthening private schooling through their political impact as well as economic impact. Randall G. Holcombe sees a trade-off between the beneficial properties of the aid and the harmful properties of the controls. He suggests a modification of the voucher plan.

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