cantoresq:
Another possible solution:
If just one Kollel Bochur was told his child had to go to public school (and then go ahead with it), it might scare the rest into paying/raising realistic tuition, lowering the burden on the rest of us. The kollel bochur’s child will not be affected (as much as the “base” child) due to upbringing, background and values instilled by his/her parents. Within a few weeks, the parents will have raised the money. Continue for other parents and they will get the point.
Mrs. Tzippi will argue that the child will be lost in the outside world. I don’t believe that is true for a younger (5-8 year old) child, and if it is, make sure you have money (beg, borrow or sell yourself, live in a studio or with your parents) to pay a minimal tuition.
Everyone will yell at me, and they are all correct. However, it is a realistic solution that can be implemented by us, as opposed to expecting MOFES to become V’MOFES (V for Vouchers). Also note I don’t say full tuition, just minimal to cover expenses. The schools can help by cutting out trips, “sponsored by the PTA”, Shabbatons etc. which just raise expectations and force the school to raise for those who don’t have.
P.S. Someone just told me he paid $150 for his son to go on a trip to Lakewood for Shabbos. He said it was hard to afford, but he needed to do so because the child would feel left out otherwise due to him not joining the rest of the class. I told him that for that price, he could have had his son home for shabbos, and taken his child to Six Flags on sunday (assuming it was warm), and gone to Mincha in Lakewood for little over half the cost, and his class and yeshiva would have nothing to say (since he was off on sunday to “come home”).
The education may be worth it, but the extras are not worth a wooden nickel.