Parents leave a lasting impression on children. Everything that we do leaves a mark on their little minds and their little souls. They know that we love them in great and small ways; with spoken and unspoken words. Children know that as parents we will go out of our way to protect them from all harm and that protection assumes various forms.
Those parents that rallied in D.C. yesterday to save the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program have left a lasting impression upon their children about how far they are willing to go to ensure that their children receive the best education available. What is amazing is how the Obama administration continues to completely ignore these parents, that by all accounts he continually asks to become “actively engaged” in their child’s education. They have, they are and their decisions should be honored. The program should be reauthorized.
The D.C. public school system has long been an embattled system of underperforming and failing schools. Since 2004, the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has provided 3,300 low income students the ability to attend the private school of their parents’ choice and as far as parents are concerned the program has helped their children to succeed academically. Furthermore, a report released by the U.S. Department of Education confirmed parents’ beliefs of academic gain.
Why then would the government actively seek to end a program that does not leave children behind and helps to bridge the ever widening achievement gap? Why ignore parents who are actively involved in their child’s education? Why put the educational future of these children at risk?
If we are to actually put children first, then all avenues that lead to academic achievement must be made available. Why is it that the discussion of where a child is educated becomes less about the child and more about maintaining the status quo? The idea that only one system can educate a child is a false one. Parents know this and this is why they rallied by the thousands yesterday. Parents want, need and should have school choice.
Tisha P. Brady
