Political Quotes

“today's vote on the Armey amendment will determine the extent to which the U.S. Congress becomes involved in controlling all nonpublic schools, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Moslem parochial schools, nonprofit secular schools, and home schools in 17 States. I was pleased to support the Ford amendment that struck the most offensive language wherein a State would have required the certification of all teachers, including home schoolers, in subject areas. I was also pleased that the gentleman from Michigan accepted by definition of his amendment in our colloquy that home school means whether or not a home school is treated as a private school or home school under State law. It solved most of the problems that are of great concern to the hundreds of constituents that have contacted my office. The problem remains, however, in the definition of what is a school. In 17 States, including my home State of Illinois, a home school is defined as a private school. The Armey amendment takes the Ford amendment one step further in that it codifies our colloquy into law. Mr. Chairman, we are witnessing something extraordinary taking place in the U.S. Congress. All but one Member of Congress, within the past hour, have voted to recognize that home educators and private schools-- Roman Catholic, Protestant, Moslem, Jewish, nondenominational, and secular--have intrinsic value. Americans today are looking for quality in education.…”