My two cents worth on tax credit bills

Last week a hearing was held on House Bill 12-183 which, if passed, will allow economically handicapped families to get tax credit if they choose to send their children to private schools. Another House Bill 12-203 will also provide an educational expense exemption for CNMI tax payers on certain educational expenses. And I understand there are several more pending in the Education Committee of the House of Legislature. Forgive me, but I am a bit cynical about these bills?

Let’s examine the situation in depth. The Public School System is mandated to accept all students from the age of six to sixteen, regardless of color, religion, racial background, physical disabilities, learning abilities, while inundated with a multitude of Federal regulations. Private schools, on the other hand, because they are private, can select who they want disregarding many of the standards that the PSS must adhere to.

For example, when these bills are passed, will private schools accept handicapped students with all the special education teachers needed and, at times, special equipment needed? The PSS has to. How many handicapped children attend private schools now?

Will they accept students whose religious background is in conflict with their religious beliefs and refuse to attend their church services? Will private schools put up with the discipline problems that the PSS is forced to? Or will they simply tell the disruptive student to go home? Then will the student return to public school and refund the money?

The PSS cannot group students homogeneously for better instruction, but must group all students heterogeneously. Do the private schools have the same restriction? What if parents show the same lack of interest in their child’s schoolwork that they do now, will the private school kick the child out? Will the private schools adhere to the same Federal laws regulating public education? The list of unanswered questions is a long one.

Of course, private schools are in favor of such bills because they will receive more money without having to adhere to the same restraints that the PSS has to. Before the private schools receive one penny, they must be made to adhere to the same stringent regulations as the PSS. To do less is to make the education playing field uneven. Merely to take money and not abide by the same regulations is grossly inequitable.

I would like to see statistics of students from poor income families whose parents actually spend time with their children helping them study in school and the students still fail. There seems to be an implication that the public schools actually are hindering students from succeeding. I would also like assurances that students who are failing in the public schools will suddenly succeed in the private schools without a major change in their attitude and that of their parents. It’s always the case of blaming outside forces instead of ourselves. Don’t blame the public schools for students not learning.

Most students who graduate from the public schools are highly educated and go on to outstanding colleges and even to U.S. military academies. Why not find out why they succeed and not others? What is the secret that makes private schools supposedly better?

Become involved in your child’s education, and he will succeed regardless of the school he goes to. Simply put, all children can become good students if they receive support and interest from home. Be careful of magical cures. Read beyond the label. There are no shortcuts to success. Good grades require hard work. Families who care about education for their children make the difference regardless of whether or not the school is private or public.

Strictly a personal view. Anthony Pellegrino writes every Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Pellegrino can be reached at tonypell@saipan.com