Trent Franks: “I think that perhaps one of the greatest dynamics of this debate is the whole cost structure. On the average, and I will…”

“I think that perhaps one of the greatest dynamics of this debate is the whole cost structure. On the average, and I will speak for Arizona because that is the State I am from, about $6,800 per student when we educate that child in a public school, whether it is an inner city school or rural school. If you average it all together, it is about $6,800. In Arizona, the average private school is approximately half of that, and yet, again, they outperform the public schools on the average. In Arizona, the average home schooler is approximately half of that, and yet they are the most outstanding academic children. They perform academically better than just about any other children in the State. Consequently, I think that the obvious inference there is it is not just the money. In fact, it seems like we have to pay more for worse results on a regular basis. I am just convinced that rather than trying to argue about which system is better, we need to start looking at home schooling and the private schools and see what are they doing that the public schools are not doing. What are they doing that government can learn from, rather than to compete so much all of the time? Let us find out what they are doing that is making things work for children. I am convinced that that would have a big impact here.”