This ability that all Americans possess is not always utilized. Many people would rather sit back and complain about the condition of their environment, their communities, and their lives. Citizens of this country constantly denigrate our elected officials, but do they get out and vote on Election Day? Are they active in their communities? What are they doing to help themselves and what changes could these potential efforts produce? The answers to these questions seem to lie along the same lines for most Americans-nothing. Not even 50% of Americans vote in the presidential election. This signifies a severe lack of patriot

Each school district be guaranteed it would receive at least as much operating money per pupil with vouchers in place as it does in the 2000-2001 fiscal year. (South Bend Tribune, 2000)

Secondly, what issues do school vouchers bring to the political forefront? The distribution of public funds, meaning tax dollars, to only some individuals creates an argument. What are the criteria for receiving these funds? Who makes the decisions concerning disbursement and selection of recipients? Are the funds accounted for after they are distributed, or can the moneys be used for other purposes? As one can see by these questions, corruption can easily rear its ugly head during the selection and distribution. Also, being that these moneys can be used for enrollment in private schools, this bridges the gap between church and state. Public funding is not supposed to be given to privately funded establishments due to the long-standing separation of church and state in this country. Some argue that school vouchers are unconstitutional. Finally, by subjecting private schools to public funding, they are obligated to abide by the rules set by the Michigan Department of E!

The NEA has clearly been the chief opponent of the school voucher program from the dawn of its inception. In the following arguments, the NEA attempts to prove that vouchers are without merit and that the proposal should be voted down in November.

Voucher supporters see themselves as the underdog, but they're confident they've learned lessons from other states where voucher proposals have been defeated. With the backing of supporters such as Amway Corp. President Richard DeVos of Grand Rapids and Michigan Chamber of Commerce head James Barrett, they're also assured they'll have the resources to get the job done.

ism and civic duty on the part of the American people.

Kids Firs claims to make the teachers and schools of Michigan even better, while rescuing kids in the school districts that are not performing. The three aforementioned components supposedly balance the need for more choice and accountability together with the desire of public educators for revenue stability. The ballot initiative lays out the broad foundation for reform, while prudently assigning the Michigan legislature to address specific implementation issues as they arise in the future. (Kids First, 2000)

* School districts that had a four-year graduation rate of less than two-thirds in the 1998-99 school year must offer vouchers.

Campaign manager Jeff Timmer, said the partnership between groups working to get vouchers on the ballot and into the hands of students is strong. "Our goal is to make sure we're not dramatically outspent," he said. "They are very committed to this."

With the $3,000 voucher, a parent may choose a private school and their child may be accepted, but there is still another factor involved in this equation. Private schools charge tuition and that tuition may be greater than the amount of the voucher. This may not be a problem for the middle to upper class family, but a low-income family would not be able to afford the extra money to send their child to a private school. Again, this seems as though the schools would still be unequal in its giving parents a choice because only those who can afford the private school will be attending them and those who cannot will be forced to go to a public school.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Michigan Department, School Vouchers, District Columbia, Kids Yes, Kids Firs, Bend Tribune, Controversy Vouchers, Opportunity Scholarship, Memphis Chicago, Ste Marie, public schools, private schools, private school, voucher program, school vouchers, public school, school voucher, student achievement, opportunity scholarship, school districts, students public schools, school voucher program, public schools $3000, opportunity scholarship worth, equalize educational opportunities,
Approximate Word count = 3236
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)