Shocker: Globe editorial criticizes vouchers

It's not often I agree with the Joplin Globe Editorial Board, but it is right on the money when it comes to its criticism of educational vouchers.
In an editorial that was just posted to the newspaper's website, the Globe takes a firm stance against the rich man's shell game:

Our communities are anchored to public schools. That’s certainly the case in Joplin — voters supported a $57.3 million plan to build new middle schools in spread-out, neighborhood locations, not central ones.

Business leaders argue that the quality of a school district benefits economic development and improves the community. Around Southwest Missouri, we see that those business leaders are correct: Houses and commercial development grow, as well as property values, soon after a school building takes root.

So why would we want to take money away from community-owned public schools — held accountable by the No Child Left Behind Act — and give it to private entities that don’t have to accept every student who applies?

Joplin’s private schools offer outstanding alternatives to parents who decide to shoulder that extra expense for the benefit of their children. But we shouldn’t expect taxpayers to finance that extra burden.

Hopefully, the editorial board will stick to its gun when some of Joplin's prominent pro-voucher contingent starts to heap on the criticism.