In the past few months, I’ve been amazed at the increasingly negative hyperbole from those opposed to any form of school choice. The rhetoric is becoming predictable: “Anyone in support of school choice is driven by money from outside interest groups.” And, “those supporting school choice just don’t care about the poor children of South Carolina and issues like the ‘corridor of shame.’” And, “The voucher and tax credit schemes have been shot down by South Carolinians as a dubious agenda of helping the rich save a few bucks.” The divisiveness of these attacks has become shameful and quite unproductive. Many people hold a sincere conviction for tax credits for private education. As the school board chairman of a low-tuition private Christian school located near the ‘corridor of shame,” I’d like to offer my perspective. 

While I was deployed to Afghanistan last year, my oldest daughter began attending the fifth grade at Orangeburg Christian Academy. OCA is a private Christian school just outside the city limits of Orangeburg. The teachers are selfless and dedicated individuals who make an average salary well below that of public school teachers (and none of the state benefits). The students are great kids from varied racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The parents are primarily hard-working men and women who care deeply about their children’s education and character. Many families are willing to tighten belts in other areas of life to give their children a Christian education. The tuition at OCA runs about $3,000 a year, though this figure varies a bit based on the grade level. It can be compared to the $11,480 of combined tax money for students in public school.

Back to my daughter. When I was able to speak with my family from overseas, I discovered a new joy in my daughter’s voice due to her Christian school environment. In particular, she had made a new best friend I will call “S” (to respect the privacy of the family). “S” was an intelligent and well-mannered girl from a hard-working African-American family. My daughter spoke about her all the time. I came back to America about the time the school year ended but had the pleasure of meeting “S.” She was a great companion to my daughter and I looked forward to both of them continuing their friendship through the years.

During the summer, I was invited to become the OCA school board chairman and happily accepted. In meeting all the wonderful teachers, parents and students, I felt passionate about volunteering to help in any way possible. From my association with OCA and learning about other such schools, I decided to donate all my profits from a book I wrote (“Articles From War”) to low-tuition Christian schools.

When classes started back for the students of OCA, my daughter and I were crushed. It turned out that her new best friend could not return to OCA because her parents could no longer afford the tuition. I quickly discovered many parents in a similar situation; on the financial edge within the family budget to keep their children at OCA. Later, when the financial crisis hit, Principal Cynthia Poor told me about the hardship on parents trying to keep kids at OCA. One father had broken down in tears because he could no longer afford to keep his children in private school. As a faithful believer, he desperately wanted his kids to receive a Christian education.

When some of our parents recommended a change to a four-day week to save money, our board quickly met about the issue. There were a number of pros and cons to the change, but as chairman the decisive factor was the families being able to afford school. We decided in favor of a four-day week and Ms. Poor implemented that change. There were a number of issues to consider and much work to make it reality. However, for Ms. Poor and the board it was a labor of love. After what I had seen and experienced with low-tuition Christian education, I was willing to do anything to help these families.

Examples of the struggles described at OCA abound in low-tuition private schools throughout South Carolina. This is why I support tax credits.

For those with the resources, a tax credit is likely not the factor preventing private education. However, for many working families it can make the decisive difference. In addition, it makes financial sense for the state. We spend $11,480 in local, state and federal taxes for each child in public education in South Carolina. Doesn’t it make sense to offer a $2,000 tax credit if that will mean one less child to pay for in public school?

It has been argued that those favoring tax credits don’t care about the children in South Carolina. That just isn’t true. With tax credits, we are all still responsible for South Carolina’s children. A fewer number of children in public school would not only be funded by their parents and other adults without children, they would also be funded by affluent parents of children in private school. The main difference is that working parents would have an easier time making the same choice as wealthy parents. Isn’t that fair to all?

Attorney Bill Connor of Orangeburg is author of the book, “Articles From War” about his experiences in Afghanistan. The book is available for order at www.billconnoronline.com.

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