Bob Wise: “like many other Members of Congress, my phones have been ringing off the hook the last few days with those concerned…”

“like many other Members of Congress, my phones have been ringing off the hook the last few days with those concerned about H.R. 6, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and particularly those concerned about the provisions dealing with home schooling and the ability to teach at home, as well as those who send their children to be educated in private schools. I am happy to report that the committee has worked and will be offering language that will eliminate those concerns so that those who teach at home and those who send their children to private schools need to be assured that nothing is going to happen that affects their ability to do this. Additionally, the committee will remove the language that deals with certification. That caused an additional problem in many States because, as in my State where we have almost 500 teachers teaching on special permits, but they are not certified, this could cause problems in our school system. But I do think it ought to be pointed out that while the committees and the Congress is going to make sure that home schooling remains intact, that private education remains intact, if all of this controversy has caused us to focus further on the needs of education, then all of us, whether involved in the public's education system, the private education system, or the home education system has gained from this, and we can focus further on the needs of our children.”