Pushing+the+unwanted+in+Pennsylvania

=By Matthew Major= =Published by Public Opinion Online= =10/10/11= = === =Of all the ideologically based policy goals supported by business-focused conservatives in Pennsylvania, the drive to undermine public education remains the most mystifying.= =For two reasons, at least: First, public education develops the kind of work force needed for successful economic development efforts. Second, Pennsylvanians simply do not buy the notion that public schools should be subjected to expensive, radical solutions to routine problems.= =We can expect, for example, that in the next few weeks state elected officials will start seriously pushing their plan to spend a large number of tax dollars to send children to private or parochial schools.= =But polling over that past year has consistently indicated that Pennsylvanians do not support this plan, and do not think public schools are as abjectly wretched as anti-public education partisans would have us believe.= =Terry Madonna Opinion Research conducted three polls over the past year on the matter. In fall 2010, spring 2011 and just last month, Madonna asked the following question: "Would you favor or oppose giving state tax dollars to parents so they can send their children to a private school of their own choosing instead of to their local public school?"= =In his most recent poll of 801 Pennsylvanians, 65 percent said they strongly oppose (43 percent) or somewhat oppose (22 percent) the use of tax dollars for that purpose. In fall 2010, some 67 percent were opposed. In spring 2011, some 61 percent were opposed.= =According to the Pennsylvania School Board Association, the results mirror those of a national Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll which surveyed about 1,000 Americans 18 years and older. In that survey, "only one in three Americans favor allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend with public dollars."= =Madonna also took the opportunity last month to ask respondents to rate their local school satisfaction. Two-thirds said they were either very satisfied (16 percent) or somewhat satisfied (51 percent) with their local schools. The satisfaction rate was 69 percent among households with children living at home, and cut across party lines with 73 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats being satisfied.= =School vouchers isn't the only issue where Corbett and the General Assembly are seemingly out of step with Pennsylvanians.= =Large majorities wanted a statewide Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction tax, bu we're getting an optional, local impact fee assessed by counties.= =A majority thinks Pennsylvania shouldn't award its electoral votes according to wins in congressional districts. But Corbett and legislative leaders nonetheless continue their effort to negate the state's 4-to-3 advantage in Democratic voter registrations concentrated in our biggest cities.= =The issue of popular representation is sharper in the General Assembly, but one might still expect a popularly elected executive to show more consideration for the will of the people.= =//-- By Matthew Major, opinion editor and member of Public Opinion's editorial board//= = =

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