{"id":141,"date":"2009-03-11T16:31:47","date_gmt":"2009-03-11T16:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/03\/vouchers-support-parental-choi.html"},"modified":"2009-03-11T16:31:47","modified_gmt":"2009-03-11T16:31:47","slug":"vouchers-support-parental-choi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/03\/vouchers-support-parental-choi.html","title":{"rendered":"Vouchers Support Parental Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, what’s wrong with giving parents a real choice about what school to send their children to? Parents are in a much better position than you or I to decide whether the public schools in their community are providing a solid education in a safe environment.<\/font><\/p>\n

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Your claim that conservatives are guilty of supporting socialism by arguing for voucher programs is absurd. A basic premise of our public school system is that taxpayers provide students with an education without regard to their family’s income. It is no more “socialist” to allow parents to direct a portion of government support allocated for their children’s education to a private school than it is to provide taxpayer-funded public schools in the first place. Remember, Barry, that it was so-called “progressives” who sought to require attendance at public schools in states such as Oregon in the 1920s before the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the right of parents to direct their children’s education. Pierce v. Society of Sisters<\/i>, 268 U.S. 510 (1925).<\/font><\/p>\n

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Proponents of vouchers recognize that many parents who seek to send their children to a private school end up getting hit twice financially by paying to support a public school system that their children do not attend and also paying tuition to a private school. An education voucher is similar in principle to any number of tax credits, deductions, etc. through which the government eases the burden of taxation by promoting or subsidizing certain expenditures. Providing vouchers does not mean that we will take away funding from the public school system; voucher programs simply provide parents with greater options in deciding which school to send their children to. <\/font><\/p>\n

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Voucher programs recognize that too many children from low-income families are trapped in dangerous, woefully underperforming public schools. For example, the Washington Times <\/i><\/font>reported<\/a> on the devastating impact that ending the D.C. voucher program will have on families who have counted on the program:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

“Patricia William worries for the future of her two children, both in the voucher program. The success of her eldest son and aspiring president, Fransoir, 12, has motivated her to go back to school for a nursing degree. ‘It’s not a competition between public schools, charter and private,’ said Ms. William. ‘Not all schools work the same for all children and we, as parents, should have the right to chose the school that works for them.’ The mother of two boys recalls her eldest’s struggle in public school, and the effect on his mood and stability. After entering Sacred Heart School, a bilingual Catholic school in Columbia Heights, five years ago at the start of the voucher program, she noticed a ‘tremendous impact emotionally, academically and physically,’ as Fransoir got the attention he needed.”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Barry, I’m guessing your real problem with voucher programs is not the quality of education that students receive but rather the fact that parents like Patricia William may choose religiously affiliated schools. As you know, however, in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris<\/i>, 536 U.S. 639 (2002), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a school voucher program in Cleveland which gave parents the option of attending sectarian or non-sectarian schools.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

I am not suggesting that we should cut funding for public schools. My wife Pam was a public school teacher in the inner city and I understand the importance of ensuring that the schools that need them the most have well-qualified teachers. But we also need to give parents a choice and voucher programs do just that.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Barry, under your view of education funding, shouldn’t the government cut all college scholarship, grant, loan, work study, and other financial aid programs that allow students to use funds at private colleges and universities? Voucher programs and college financial aid programs both involve the government helping to partially fund a student’s choice to attend a private school. I hope your opposition to vouchers would not lead you to adopt such an extreme position.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a>.<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, what’s wrong with giving parents a real choice about what school to send their children to? Parents are in a much better position than you or I to decide whether the public schools in their community are providing a solid education in a safe environment.   Your claim that conservatives are guilty of supporting…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,35,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-schools","category-education","category-public-schools"],"yoast_head":"\nVouchers Support Parental Choice - Lynn v. 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FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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