I want to highlight the first two sentences from this article published in the New York Times on January 29, 2008. Educators around the nation need to be fully aware of this and its long term implications. I encourage you to read the entire article sited below and then take what ever political action you feel appropriate--just do something (in support or opposition to this political venture) more than just talking about it with your colleagues.
I frequently say that educators need to vigorously participate in the political process to shape education policy-making and funding. Our silence has not served our children or our profession well.
Grants Would Finance Private Schooling
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: January 29, 2008WASHINGTON — President Bush’s call for a $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids is the latest effort by his administration to channel tax dollars to low-income parents to help them send their children to private or religious schools.
His proposal, in his State of the Union address Monday night, was denounced by some top Democratic lawmakers and teachers’ union officials as a national “voucher” program that would only drain resources from urban public schools that in many cases are in need of money.
[Source: Grants Would Finance Private Schooling - New York Times]
