First Speech in the House
I gave my first speech to the New Hampshire House of Representatives today. You can find the speech just before the 28th minute in this grainy video. I should note that much of the speech was in response to the Education Commmittee's majority report. Also, I made a few extemporaneous comments and added a whole story at the end so you'll have to watch the video to get the full effect:
Thank you, Madame Speaker. Fellow Members of the House, I rise today in support of HB-693, a bill seeking to create a school certificate program that would provide more educational opportunities for families of limited means. A very similar bill passed the Education Committee last year and it deserves your thoughtful consideration.
This bill was carefully crafted to avoid the problems outlined in the majority report. This program will only provide certificates to families within a certain range of the federal poverty rate. This ensures no money will be expended on rich families.
Certificates will only be granted in communities that have a growing student population and even then the certificates will only provide 80% of the state allotment to the student while 20% will go to the public school in that district. NO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL FEEL ANY FINANCIAL DRAIN BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM.
Studies from other states and countries have shown that school choice programs not only provide more educational opportunities for students, they also improve the public school systems through healthy competition.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that school choice programs, even ones that allow students to attend parochial schools, do not violate the First Amendment or any other section of the U.S. Constitution. While it is true that the NH Constitution specifically prohibits the funding of religious schools, this bill is tailored to avoid causing a constitutional problem. Money goes directly to the parents, not the schools, and the parents have the choice to send their children where they want. The bill doesn't favor any particular sect and remains religiously neutral. No one's children will be forced to attend religious schools against their will. The money from the certificates is going to provide the same, secular math, science, language, art, and other classes as in the public schools.
You have heard that this program doesn't meet the requirements of special needs students. In fact, in other states where similar programs have been implemented, there are increased opportunities for special needs students.
Fellow legislators, I urge you: consider the needs of this state's lower income families. Those children who are fortunate enough to be born into rich families already have more opportunities in life than their less fortunate counterparts -- why shouldn't children born into families of limited means at least have the same educational opportunities?
Please, I urge you, overturn the committee's recommendation of ITL and vote OTP. Thank you.
Thank you, Madame Speaker. Fellow Members of the House, I rise today in support of HB-693, a bill seeking to create a school certificate program that would provide more educational opportunities for families of limited means. A very similar bill passed the Education Committee last year and it deserves your thoughtful consideration.
This bill was carefully crafted to avoid the problems outlined in the majority report. This program will only provide certificates to families within a certain range of the federal poverty rate. This ensures no money will be expended on rich families.
Certificates will only be granted in communities that have a growing student population and even then the certificates will only provide 80% of the state allotment to the student while 20% will go to the public school in that district. NO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL FEEL ANY FINANCIAL DRAIN BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM.
Studies from other states and countries have shown that school choice programs not only provide more educational opportunities for students, they also improve the public school systems through healthy competition.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that school choice programs, even ones that allow students to attend parochial schools, do not violate the First Amendment or any other section of the U.S. Constitution. While it is true that the NH Constitution specifically prohibits the funding of religious schools, this bill is tailored to avoid causing a constitutional problem. Money goes directly to the parents, not the schools, and the parents have the choice to send their children where they want. The bill doesn't favor any particular sect and remains religiously neutral. No one's children will be forced to attend religious schools against their will. The money from the certificates is going to provide the same, secular math, science, language, art, and other classes as in the public schools.
You have heard that this program doesn't meet the requirements of special needs students. In fact, in other states where similar programs have been implemented, there are increased opportunities for special needs students.
Fellow legislators, I urge you: consider the needs of this state's lower income families. Those children who are fortunate enough to be born into rich families already have more opportunities in life than their less fortunate counterparts -- why shouldn't children born into families of limited means at least have the same educational opportunities?
Please, I urge you, overturn the committee's recommendation of ITL and vote OTP. Thank you.