School wars update

National Review, Sept 14, 1992

THE California Teachers Association has been taking bows since it became clear the schoolvoucher initiative wouldn't make this years statewide ballot. You can understand their pride. The CTA's "Blocking" effort gummed up a petition drive that once seemed destined for easy success. Among other ploys, some opponents resorted to intimidation; on a few occasions anti-choice militants even linked arms around petition tables to keep signers away. At a Democratic Party conclave in April, Willie Brown cheerfully related how seeing a group of initiative foes hound a signature-gatherer out of a mall had made his day.

Despite the organized bullying, nearly one million names were submitted to the secretary of state in June. But time was short, and the union used delaying measures to good effect, aggressively challenging signatures until the deadline for the November ballot had passed. There is evidence, too, of possible signature fraud by opponents in San Diego County. The DA is investigating. In any case, the final count now shows the choice initiative has qualified for the June 1994 ballot. The day of decision has merely been pushed back, not canceled.

A strong case can be made that this postponement only helps the cause. Waging an effective campaign this year wouldn't have been very easy, not with the scores of races competing for dollars and attention. Now, supporters have two years to canvass possible donors, to counter the anti-choice propaganda spewing from the public-schools establishment, and even to stop schools and PTA groups from misusing public money to fight school choice. Moreover, poll numbers look good as of now for a voucher initiative that is likely to be on Colorado's ballot this November. If it passes, the momentum should carry into the 1994 California campaign.

So maybe school-choice supporters should join the CTA in toasting its "blocking" efforts. The union bosses' near-term triumph just might increase the chances they'll lose-and California's schoolchildren will win--in the long run.