Ok, I’m ready for it. A transplant from Texas dares to question the Delaware practice of providing private school parents who apply a stipend to transport their children to a non-public school? Yes. Admittedly I was shocked to learn that this is a pretty longstanding practice here and in a number of other states. Apparently also there is funding of school nurses in private schools.
I was heartened to read that Governor Markell is trying to get the transportation subsidy, averaging somewhere around $168 for about 11,000 students, axed from the budget. And I further heartened that he has opposed this subsidy since his first campaign.
I’m shocked on three levels. First, that the private schools, especially the religious schools, are willing to accept government funding. I thought the religious institutions wanted to be left alone from any government intrusion or rules.
Second, I’m stunned that conservatives share the same desire to be “left alone” from government meddling, unless apparently it has something to do with what happens in America’s bedrooms and American women’s bodies, where government meddling is OK. Or in some cases, what is taught in science classes in American schools which might seem to contradict scripture.
Third, that this aspect of the Delaware Way includes what appears to me to be a basic violation of separation of church and state. And further, a hit on the already dismal support of public education and their budgets here and almost everywhere.
I am particularly interested in hearing views from Delaware liberals who support this subsidy and also claim to support the separation of church and state or at least, the vital contribution public education has and can make in turning our body politic into a real democracy.