Newspaper Article

VOUCH FOR VOUCHERS WITH NO STRINGS

Cohen, Laurence D

2000

Overview

Project Concern, the voluntary busing program intended to help some of Hartford's kids escape from their miserable schools, was still in its prime during the [Peter Relic] years -- and West Hartford was one of the more enthusiastic suburban players. By 1986, 430 Hartford students attended classes in West Hartford and 15 West Hartford students attended specialized foreign language and arts programs in Hartford. Relic left West Hartford for the top school job in Charlotte, N.C., the largest school district in the state, with 73,000 students - - about 40 percent of them minority. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg district was operating under a court-ordered desegregation plan, but Relic arrived after the battle was over -- and was forced out over issues having more to do with style (a snobby Northeastern style) than substance. Even in Charlotte, vouchers were never a public issue. Only about 12,000 students were being bused, and most of them ended up where they wanted to go. He suggests that there are serious impediments to voucher systems, beyond the traditional obstructionism of the teacher unions and existing public school bureaucracy. Even among his own members, Relic admits to some fears that a voucher could come with strings attached - - especially dangerous strings that would limit the ability of the schools to admit students they think would be most appropriate. \"`Independent' means independent from government,\" he says. \"If government restricts admissions policies, it would be the beginning of the end for independent schools.\"

• Publisher: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC
• Subject: Relic, Peter