Today, in Upper Senate Park (across the street from the Capitol Building) thousands of kids, parents, and interested parties, cried out in unison: “Put Kids First!” Seems like it should be common sense, but, sadly, here in Washington, common sense rarely rules the day. The kids at the rally were from charter and parochial schools in DC that were a part of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. The program is highly successful and keeps kids out of failing, violent schools. It is truly sad that Washington is ruled by special interest groups instead of common sense.
It is still unbelievable to Virginia Walden-Ford, president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, that she has to, once again, fight for this program. she fears that as goes DC, so goes the country. That is bad news for students all across the country living in poverty who can’t afford to attend private schools and are forced into under performing schools.
This is why so much effort and attention is focused on DC. We need to keep this program alive in DC because the kids in DC are the most at risk. DC has some of the highest drop out rates among high school students. The DC Opportunity Scholarship program helps those most in need, and Congress wants to stop it.
Where are the Republican Representatives and Senators? The Republicans are so inept that they can not see a wedge issue that thye could nurture for the betterment of educating our youth.
There are many children with extra ordinary talent. These children fall between the cracks because of class disruption with some students and causes these children to wait till some catch up. Choice is what Parents Need. I am all for Vouches because it seems our Public education is falling at the waist, more money is put into the system and where is the results? – Give the money to the Voucher system. Let Our children Get The Education They Deserve. Our Children, Our Future of This Great Nation.
It's all about control and helping your cronies, fellow conservatives. While touting their concern for the children, those in power propagandicize their captive future supporters and feather the NEAs' nest.
You are right Spiritof76, the Repubs should drive this home and they should do photo ops while making an education freedom statement with the flower of Americas' youth!
I watched Congress for two months when the administratin started. I heard that they were cutting the DC voucher system, President Obama's kids go to these schools. This President wants to increase our kids school time. But he won't help the DC kids! He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk!
However unsuprising this may be it is still shameful. Kids are the most vunerable yet the most ignored and complained about portion of our population. I live in a place where a super secretive and selective mayor can choose where to send his kids to school with no explanation to anyone yet most kids in this town have no legal choice of where to go to school.They can only hope they have family in the burb's so they can at least get a decent education in the surrounding counties and thats not saying much considering the decline in all American schools over the last 20 years or so…In my opinion vouchers don't solve anything they transfer the problem…It's gonna take very innovative legislation and innovative leadership for anything to really change. This is really sad.How irresponsible adults can be and we're supposed to be teaching these kids something?