School vouchers, a controversial subject,  is under public scrutiny.  Court decisions bring appeals, and lobbies work passionately debating the pros and cons of funneling public money to private schools. David Brennan, a successful Ohio entrepreneur, is an example of an individual who has thrust himself into the education arena determined to see his side–the acceptance of vouchers–succeed. He explains that his interest in education was kindled by workers in his factories who were nearly illiterate and unable to participate in activities that required problem-solving skills. Recognizing a challenge and believing that educated employees would be more productive and better for his businesses, he set up schools for his workers and their families. His initiative evolved into the Home Schooling Network, which utilizes the Internet and offers several thousand courses. True to his entrepeneurial spirit, he established a company, Wicat, to produce educational software and went on to create charter school academies for young children. High school dropouts can attend his Lifeskills Center schools which allow for holding a job while gradually “testing out” of various subjects and earning a diploma. His company, White Hat Management, runs his schools, all charter, for profit, a principle he vehemently defends as being a motivation for producing quality. “Non-profit attracts people not interested in being best,” he maintains. The state of Ohio pays about $6,000 per pupil in charter schools.

“Charters are a compromise for not giving vouchers, a Republican-Democratic issue,” he claims, but “vouchers are here to stay and will grow, but will not be universal, especially in cities.” Cities will benefit from a broad range of options, he advises. Brennan prefers vouchers to charters because they have fewer limitations and are “safer and more flexible.” Voucher schools need not have standardized tests or reported scores. Their accounts can be private. Charters must meet state guidelines. Unmoved by those who fear vouchers threaten the First Amendment prohibition of government establishment of religion (Supreme Court Justice David Souter has said vouchers would require taxpayers to “subsidize faiths you don’t believe in,” and “make religion dependent on government”), Brennan dismisses the religion argument as “a red herring,” maintaining that the real issue is government vs. parental control of schools. Although 96 percent of Cleveland’s vouchers go to parochial schools and 85 percent of private schools in the country are sectarian, Brennan maintains that vouchers allow choice and encourage competition. So far, vouchers are legal in three states: Ohio, Wisconsin (only Milwaukee), and Florida (recently questioned in a state circuit court decision).  When put to a vote of the electorate, vouchers have passed in only one of 20 states tested. Ever the optimist, David Brennan quips, “change should not be easy.” He is encouraged by the June 5-4 Supreme Court decision permitting vouchers in Cleveland.#