Tim Walberg: “I thank my good friend and colleague from Michigan, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk about something that is…”

“I thank my good friend and colleague from Michigan, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk about something that is extremely important. In our Michigan State Constitution, Article VIII, section 1, it says: ``Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.'' That article--that line was taken from the Northwest Ordinance. I think it showed the wisdom of some of our Founders of this great Nation, the greatest in the entire world, that they understood that education and the means of education gave the opportunity, and, in fact, to a great degree, assured the freedom and opportunity of a Nation and the morality of a Nation that understood the wisdom that came even from the centuries and the ages. I think we would all agree that schools should meet the unique educational needs of children, wouldn't we? I know my colleague would agree with that. And why, then, would we question the fact that there ought to be choice? Choice in education, even as we seek choice in our daily lives is what makes America great. School choice gives parents and children the option of allowing the children to flourish. That is the intended goal, isn't it? Michigan has a variety of options, and I am grateful for that. It didn't always have those same options, but we do now.…”