Louise Slaughter: “I do not think any one of us could say that the public school system in the United States in many areas of the country…”

“I do not think any one of us could say that the public school system in the United States in many areas of the country is not in serious trouble. I do not think many of us would disagree that whatever happens, the public school system in the United States has to be helped and made better. It is somewhat tragic to me when I hear this debate, because I know that everybody is well-meaning, and I really believe that all of the Members of this Congress want to do the best they can for the children of the United States. But the fact of the matter is that at a cost of a voucher of $3,200, it seems to me that what you are doing is dangling out to poor parents by telling them that their public school is no good is sort of a pie-in-the-sky idea, because I don't know of any private schools, many of them, that would be able to pay the tuition of $3,200. How much better it would be for every child in the country if the public school system was brought up to standard. We have an obligation for that. When this country was settled, the first thing the settlers did in every community was to build a church and build a school, understanding that it was their personal obligation to educate their children. We need to dedicate ourselves today not to ways to getting around the public school system, but to dedicating ourselves to making it be what it ought to be.”