Vouchers article

The New York Times has an article on vouchers in D.C. (via Marginal Revolution):

At Fransoir's old school, Adams Elementary, the principal, Pedro A. Cartagena, said that about 70 students had left for charters, and with just 200 students remaining, Adams was one of many public schools designated an "underutilized school" at risk of being closed. To survive, Dr. Cartagena said he was exploring the possibility of teaming up with a popular dual-language public elementary school, the Oyster School, to transform Adams into a dual-language middle school.

But the pressure of competition is inescapable. In one sixth-grade classroom, two of six students said they would probably go to charter schools next year, unless Adams could get its seventh grade started.

"I'll probably go to Washington Latin," said Jhontelle Johnson, setting her sights on a new charter school opening in August. If not, she said, "I'd probably be home-schooled."

A teacher's aide, Sheonna Griffin, looked askance. "You don't like public schools?" she asked the child. Jhontelle turned back, her young eyes flashing.

"You can't make me go," she said.

Vouchers increasingly strikes me as one of those issues where people choose their position based far more on what "they wish, hope, or imagine happens" as Thomas Sowell states than actual facts.

Because if it was based on facts rather than emotion, there wouldn't even be a debate.

Update: Related point about education spending.