<p>Perhaps a voucher system is CURRENTLy more popular among inner-city minorities, because CURRENTLY there are such huge disparities in the quality of public schools, and inner-city schools are often awful whereas rich, white people already have access to great public schools. A voucher system would not do as much to further educational equality as would improving and equalizing the public school system. A voucher system has never been created which will cover the most expensive private schools. Not to mention, not everyone can be admitted to the best private schools. Private colleges offer need-based aid, yet about 1/2 of their student bodies is affluent. Why? Because the affluent students have more advantages allowing them to be admitted to private colleges. If all students went to private high schools, it would be the same thing in trickle-down. Education in a democracy should not be a "survival of the fittest" system the way our laissez-faire economic system is. Furthermore, children growing up in poor families are less likely to have parents educated about the system, who will push to send their children to the best private schools. </p>
<p>No, funding is not directly correllated with educational excellence, but it sure as hell can limit it. Richer school systems can attract the best qualified teachers. If funding of public schools was equalized, I believe OVER TIME quality of education at public schools would level out.</p>