Cliff Stearns: “I rise today in the strongest support of the Armey amendment to H.R. 6, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As I…”

“I rise today in the strongest support of the Armey amendment to H.R. 6, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As I believe every member of this House knows by now, the Miller amendment, as it came out of committee, would affect the right of parents and children around this country to choose private, religious or home schooling. Parents who choose these options, and I have many in my district, have seen outstanding results from these nonpublic schools. While virtually every member of this House is supportive of the public school system, we should not turn this support into an attempt to coerce parents who have chosen private, religious or home schooling out of these choices. It is a fundamental right for parents to choose the education for their children that best suits their family's needs. Whether or not the actions we take in Congress are intended to affect these schools, we must be aware that they can be interpreted to do so. That is exactly why so many people were alarmed by the teacher certification language that was in this bill as it emerged from committee. That is also why the Armey amendment is the best way to improve this bill. The Armey amendment makes explicit what I believe is the intention of the vast majority of this House--that the Federal Government not begin telling private educational institutions how to do their job. Private schools have shown their effectiveness in providing education to millions of American children.”