ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1
November 17, 2020
24:54
Jay Sekulow speaks about the protection of religious freedoms in America.
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ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1
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- (bright upbeat music)
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- - The American Center for Lawand Justice has just launched
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- a brand new SchoolChoice Initiative.
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- We'll talk about ittoday on the broadcast.
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- We are very excited toannounce a new ACLJ initiative,
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- a new ACLJ program.
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- It's what we've worked on foryears, decades at the ACLJ
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- which is school choicecases at the Supreme Court
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- and in the courts.
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- In fact, I'm holdinga brief right now
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- that we filed and a case
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- that is pending before theUS Supreme Court right now,
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- on school choice.
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- It's the Espinosa case, weshould get a decision on that
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- very soon from the SupremeCourt, we filed this case.
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- So again, it's not something
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- we are just brand new to.
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- and the need for police reform,
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- and Tim Scott's, SenatorScott's Justice Act
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- that we've been supporting,
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- we wanted to look at kindof this whole approach
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- of what the ACLJ could do,
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- as an initiativeto really assist
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- what we believeis most important,
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- and what people likeSenator Scott also believe,
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- is so important,
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- as he said to the WallStreet Journal,
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- Senator Scott said,"In our society,
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- "we spend so much timeon the root causes,
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- "the disadvantagesthat we forget
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- "to talk about the solutions
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- "and the advantage that we haveover the rest of the world."
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- Advancement he believescomes through education,
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- is absolutely essential thatwe have quality education
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- in every zip code,
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- especially the poorestzip codes in America.
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- That is the path forward.
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- So you don't justimmediately address
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- like the police reform problem,
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- though you certainlyaddress that,
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- but you have to look atthe bigger issues as well.
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- Let me go to Thann Bennettin Washington DC,
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- because Thann, this isan initiative from the ACLJ,
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- we're all very excitedabout, because it's about
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- these justice and equalityissues that have been
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- so much debated and discussed
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- that people havegotten excited about
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- over and over and having
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- these conversationsover the past few weeks.
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- But we wanted to say,
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- "Hey, what could we dosubstantively at the ACLJ?"
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- And this is something wecould do substantively.
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- - Absolutely, Jordan,and one of the things
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- you're gonna hear from parents
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- the most frequently, I knowyou can relate to this,
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- I can relate to this, asa parent wants to provide
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- a better opportunityfor their child
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- than maybe they had in Jordan,
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- the opportunity to get aneducation that is better
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- than they had would beat the top of that list.
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- For so long, that just hasnot been the case for parents
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- of children residing inlow income districts.
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- And look, we understandthat many of these decisions
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- are made on a localand state level
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- and probably appropriately so.
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- But Jordan, whenyou have a situation
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- where the poorestamong us cannot afford
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- or do not have the opportunityto get the education
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- as those who live in zipcodes that are more affluent
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- that has got tochange their ways,
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- the federal governmentcan support it.
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- Yes, most of those decisionswill still reside on the state
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- and local level.
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- But Senator Scottis 100% correct.
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- It should not matterwhich zip code a child
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- is born in, in theUnited States of America,
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- the parents should still havethe opportunity to make sure
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- that, that child gets theeducation they deserve during...
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- There are a lot of ways
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- that we canaccomplish that goal.
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- - We'll be right back withmore of our discussion.
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- But what we're doingright now at the ACLJ,
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- we're back on the broadcast.
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- (bright upbeat music)
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- So help me God now underattack in federal court.
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- (bright upbeat music)
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- Let me paint thispicture for you.
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- Atheist, they have theright to be under our laws,
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- the United States tobelieve or not believe
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- and practice faithor no faith at all.
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- And we respect that in theUnited States of America.
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- But we also have, thecitizenship ceremonies
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- where you take anoath of allegiance
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- to the United States, and theoath ends with so help me God.
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- So there's someonefor France immigrating
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- to the United States, theyare becoming US citizen,
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- they have to go throughthis final ceremony
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- where they take thatoath, and they object to,
- 00:04:09.296 --> 00:04:12.499
- so help me God.
- 00:04:12.499 --> 00:04:14.401
- Now did the federal governmentsay, "Oh, if you don't say
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- "that you're not gonnabecome a citizen?"
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- No.
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- They gave them two options.
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- They said theycould just not say
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- that part when others did it
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- or they could do a separateceremony, two options.
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- Was it good enoughfor that atheist
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- who was lookingfor a court battle?
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- Absolutely not, and theyhave lost at both stages.
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- That's good news.
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- We're watching it veryclosely at the American Center
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- for Law and Justice, tosee if this gets appealed
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- to the Supreme Court.
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- We've been successful.
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- At the state level, locallevel, federal level
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- in defending theseacknowledgments
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- of our Judeo Christianheritage in the United States,
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- but we're watchingvery carefully here
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- to see if this case makesits way to the Supreme Court,
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- so if we need tostep in, we can.
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- So in times, again, whereyou could be distracted
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- from many issues happeningacross the United States
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- is dealing with, these casesare still moving forward
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- in federal court.
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- And we will alwaysbe there to defend
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- our Judeo Christian heritage
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- at the American Centerfor Law and Justice.
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- Folks, welcome backto Jay Sekulow Live
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- this is Jordan Sekulow.
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- If you're just joining us,
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- let me just say weare very excited
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- to announce the brand newSchool Choice Initiative
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- from the American Centerfor Law and Justice.
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- The initial blog announcingthis by Harry Hutchinson
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- it's called Advancing Justiceby expanding school choice.
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- Harry is joining us now.
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- Harry, he is frequentlyon the broadcast
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- also kind of overseesour law and policy team
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- as a senior attorney, formerlaw professor as well.
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- Harry great have youon the broadcast today?
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- - Well, thanks, Jordan.
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- It's my pleasure to be with you.
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- And I would say first off,
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- that it is high time tomake public school leaders
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- and heads of teachersunions uncomfortable
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- by unleashing real justicein the form of school choice.
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- While the world has becomeconvulsed by focusing
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- on removing monuments, let'sbuild a monumental movement
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- that delivers accountability,
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- improved educationalperformance, improvedsafety for first
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- and second gradersthrough school choice.
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- As I said before, it istime for affirmative action
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- for public school children,rather than focusing
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- on whether for instance,Yale University,
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- named after a famed slavetrader changes its name
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- to something morePolitically Correct.
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- It is time to move beyondsymbols and symbolic reform
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- to advance school choice.
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- And if not now,when, if not us who?
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- - What we're alsogonna be doing Harry,
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- which I think is importantbecause the goal of this,
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- of our initiative is touse this as a vehicle
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- to obtain justice for allof Americans children,
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- including the least among us,
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- with the debates that havebeen raging across the country
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- And the police reformwhich we support
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- through Senator Scott, andthat reform the Justice Act,
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- but even Harry,Senator Scott said,
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- "The key is really education."
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- Getting the poorest kidsaccess to the best education
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- and middle class kids as well,
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- whose parents maynot normally be able
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- to afford a private school,
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- whether it's a private school,religious private school,
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- or charter school or justa different public school.
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- The goal here is to reallyput forward information
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- that States can use,
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- whether it's draft legislationto start these programs,
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- and also begin pointingout the barriers
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- that have been put inplace as you noted,
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- by the left, in some stateswhich have completely tried
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- to do away withschool choice entirely
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- like the State of Michigan.
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- But Harry, really thegoal here is justice
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- for all of America's children.
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- We believe this is the righttime, we've been engaged
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- to this issue fordecades at the ACLJ
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- but this is the right time
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- to start a grassrootslegal movement around.
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- - Absolutely, so manypeople rightly asked
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- the following question, "Isthe stunning malfeasance
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- "of public schoolsin many cities,
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- "whether or not thatconstitutes a deliberate,
- 00:08:28.421 --> 00:08:31.691
- "intentional andpremeditated effort
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- "to sabotage the lives ofpoor and minority kids?"
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- In my view, aftermore than 70 years
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- of educational malpracticeby progressive leaders,
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- we must answer thisparticular question
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- with the following response.
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- (speaking in foreign language)
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- That is the thingspeaks for itself.
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- So if you look back the history
- 00:08:58.118 --> 00:09:00.453
- of the United States fromaround 1950 to 1960 on,
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- public school education,
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- particularly inminority communities
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- has declined at anexponential rate.
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- And it is ply.
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- We are now pushing schoolchoice because we need
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- to put pressure on publicschools by providing competition
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- by making public schoolleaders more accountable
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- to the individuals who live
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- in every single zipcode in America.
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- And so I think that'swhy it's really important
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- for our listenersto engage with us
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- as we launch the ACLJSchool Choice Initiative.
- 00:09:38.758 --> 00:09:43.029
- - But Harry, the truthis, as you pointed out,
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- it's less than themajority of states
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- in the country don'treally have these programs.
- 00:09:47.634 --> 00:09:50.804
- - Absolutely, and theseprograms are not available
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- to a majority ofstudents, even in states
- 00:09:55.041 --> 00:09:57.911
- that have these programs.
- 00:09:57.911 --> 00:09:59.946
- So it's very, veryimperative to expand access
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- to these choice programs.
- 00:10:04.484 --> 00:10:07.821
- And so if you actuallylook back at history,
- 00:10:07.821 --> 00:10:10.924
- public schools usedto be accountable
- 00:10:10.924 --> 00:10:14.127
- to the communities they serve.
- 00:10:14.127 --> 00:10:16.496
- So if you look back atthe public school system
- 00:10:16.496 --> 00:10:19.833
- in Washington, DC, in 1899,
- 00:10:19.833 --> 00:10:23.436
- there were four academicpublic high schools,
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- one black and three white.
- 00:10:26.306 --> 00:10:29.109
- In standardized test scoresgiven an 1899 students
- 00:10:29.109 --> 00:10:33.947
- in the black high schoolsaverage higher test scores
- 00:10:33.947 --> 00:10:37.317
- than students in two ofthe three white schools,
- 00:10:37.317 --> 00:10:40.620
- this patternprevailed until 1955.
- 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:44.557
- But things havechanged and that's why
- 00:10:44.557 --> 00:10:46.760
- we need school choice now.
- 00:10:46.760 --> 00:10:48.361
- - We'll be right back withmore of our discussion.
- 00:10:48.361 --> 00:10:50.530
- But what we're doingright now at the ACLJ,
- 00:10:50.530 --> 00:10:52.599
- we're back on the broadcast.
- 00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:54.234
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:10:54.234 --> 00:10:57.404
- - Thanks to yoursupport of the ACLJ,
- 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:00.089
- we have had many victories.
- 00:11:00.089 --> 00:11:01.957
- - The IRS now are formallyapologizing to Tea Party groups.
- 00:11:01.957 --> 00:11:05.327
- - The IRS did the rightthing by resolving the case
- 00:11:05.327 --> 00:11:07.162
- with an injunction thatmandated a complete change
- 00:11:07.162 --> 00:11:09.999
- of the IRS nonprofittax exempt work
- 00:11:09.999 --> 00:11:11.934
- as relates to issueadvocacy organization.
- 00:11:11.934 --> 00:11:13.936
- - If any group feels thatthey're being targeted,
- 00:11:13.936 --> 00:11:16.572
- they can go to federalcourt and bring our case.
- 00:11:16.572 --> 00:11:20.075
- That's a victory.
- 00:11:20.075 --> 00:11:21.543
- - We had an organizationthat believed in our claim.
- 00:11:21.543 --> 00:11:24.213
- They knew that we wereright and they were going
- 00:11:24.213 --> 00:11:26.048
- to help navigate that process
- 00:11:26.048 --> 00:11:27.850
- to help us achievesuccess, and they did.
- 00:11:27.850 --> 00:11:29.618
- - For the most significantwins in the ACLJ's history
- 00:11:29.618 --> 00:11:32.488
- to take on the IRS and when--
- 00:11:32.488 --> 00:11:34.256
- - For more than 27 yearsthe ACLJ has been fighting
- 00:11:34.256 --> 00:11:37.393
- for freedom and libertyin the United States
- 00:11:37.393 --> 00:11:39.728
- and around the globe.(crowd shouting)
- 00:11:39.728 --> 00:11:42.498
- - These are young peoplein their 20s and 30s
- 00:11:42.498 --> 00:11:44.733
- that are doing this,are fighting for life
- 00:11:44.733 --> 00:11:46.268
- at a whole new level to beatback the abortion juggernaut.
- 00:11:46.268 --> 00:11:49.371
- We've got a wholegroup of young boys
- 00:11:49.371 --> 00:11:50.773
- that are defending them.
- 00:11:50.773 --> 00:11:52.007
- - Those of us thatbelieve in life,
- 00:11:52.007 --> 00:11:53.275
- know that we're on theright side of history,
- 00:11:53.275 --> 00:11:54.510
- we understand full well,children are children,
- 00:11:54.510 --> 00:11:56.745
- and they're preciousin God's sight
- 00:11:56.745 --> 00:11:58.147
- and the preciousinformation side
- 00:11:58.147 --> 00:11:59.448
- in the precious to parents.
- 00:11:59.448 --> 00:12:00.916
- - We have to not justsay that we are pro-life,
- 00:12:00.916 --> 00:12:02.951
- we have to actually be pro-life.
- 00:12:02.951 --> 00:12:04.953
- We have to get uncomfortableto do everything
- 00:12:04.953 --> 00:12:08.290
- we can to promotea culture of life.
- 00:12:08.290 --> 00:12:11.293
- - And I actuallythink we're winning.
- 00:12:11.293 --> 00:12:12.761
- This is one of the socialissues we're winning.
- 00:12:12.761 --> 00:12:15.030
- - We have to be cognizantof the fact that globally,
- 00:12:15.030 --> 00:12:17.933
- persecution is as alive andwell as it has ever been.
- 00:12:17.933 --> 00:12:21.103
- - The level of persecutionis on the rise.
- 00:12:21.103 --> 00:12:23.105
- It's being reported more.
- 00:12:23.105 --> 00:12:24.573
- - We're talking about situations
- 00:12:24.573 --> 00:12:25.808
- where people are put in jail,
- 00:12:25.808 --> 00:12:27.609
- threatened with death,
- 00:12:27.609 --> 00:12:29.378
- or life imprisonment, simplybecause of who they are,
- 00:12:29.378 --> 00:12:33.782
- and what they believe.
- 00:12:33.782 --> 00:12:35.050
- - For the releaseof Andrew Brunson.
- 00:12:35.050 --> 00:12:37.186
- He is The American evangelicalfrom North Carolina
- 00:12:37.186 --> 00:12:40.089
- held in Turkey formore than two years.
- 00:12:40.089 --> 00:12:42.725
- - They're rushingus to the airport,
- 00:12:42.725 --> 00:12:44.660
- and there was an AirForce plane that came
- 00:12:45.994 --> 00:12:47.730
- from Germany thathad been on standby.
- 00:12:47.730 --> 00:12:49.832
- We're flying and they finallyleft Turkish airspace.
- 00:12:49.832 --> 00:12:53.435
- It's like, okay.
- 00:12:53.435 --> 00:12:55.070
- Now we're really out ofTurkey, and free again.
- 00:12:55.070 --> 00:12:59.775
- - We're grateful to ACLJ, whoput it out to these people,
- 00:12:59.775 --> 00:13:03.645
- they were getting all this out.
- 00:13:03.645 --> 00:13:05.347
- - All of the people whopray for us through ACLJ
- 00:13:05.347 --> 00:13:08.717
- and through your contacts,
- 00:13:08.717 --> 00:13:10.586
- I'm thankful I'm grateful
- 00:13:10.586 --> 00:13:12.855
- and actually, I'm astounded.
- 00:13:12.855 --> 00:13:15.624
- - We need your help aswe continue this work
- 00:13:15.624 --> 00:13:17.793
- here in the United Statesand around the world.
- 00:13:17.793 --> 00:13:20.329
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:13:20.329 --> 00:13:23.699
- - They gave us a voice,they stood up for us,
- 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:26.135
- they fought for us.
- 00:13:26.135 --> 00:13:27.469
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:13:27.469 --> 00:13:29.838
- - Our job as lawyers was tomake sure our clients were able
- 00:13:29.838 --> 00:13:32.541
- to communicate theirmessage of life.
- 00:13:32.541 --> 00:13:34.843
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:13:34.843 --> 00:13:38.480
- - It was an amazingthing to be convicted
- 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.150
- and a day later I'mback in the states
- 00:13:41.150 --> 00:13:43.685
- with my family andthe whole house.
- 00:13:43.685 --> 00:13:46.221
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:13:46.221 --> 00:13:49.391
- - Welcome back toJay Sekulow Live.
- 00:14:02.738 --> 00:14:04.807
- So the ACLJ launchingour brand new,
- 00:14:04.807 --> 00:14:06.742
- School Choice Initiative.
- 00:14:06.742 --> 00:14:08.610
- And we're talking toHarry Hutchison right now
- 00:14:08.610 --> 00:14:10.345
- who had been, of courseon the broadcast with us.
- 00:14:10.345 --> 00:14:12.214
- Harry, I wanna play SpeakerNancy Pelosi, because I think
- 00:14:12.214 --> 00:14:15.517
- this is important foreverybody listening right now,
- 00:14:15.517 --> 00:14:17.953
- to share this informationwith your friends and family
- 00:14:17.953 --> 00:14:20.355
- about this SchoolChoice Initiative,
- 00:14:20.355 --> 00:14:22.558
- share the blog that Harry wrote,
- 00:14:22.558 --> 00:14:24.359
- because if you havefriends and family,
- 00:14:24.359 --> 00:14:26.628
- co-workers who have beeninterested in this kind
- 00:14:26.628 --> 00:14:29.298
- of new discussion on equalityin America and police reform
- 00:14:29.298 --> 00:14:34.036
- and justice and equality inthe debate that's happening,
- 00:14:34.036 --> 00:14:36.705
- this is key to it.
- 00:14:36.705 --> 00:14:38.407
- And even Nancy Pelosihas admitted how bad
- 00:14:38.407 --> 00:14:41.577
- many of these schools areand how rough they are.
- 00:14:41.577 --> 00:14:44.112
- Take a listen, thisis Nancy Pelosi.
- 00:14:44.112 --> 00:14:46.849
- This year, in a pressconference bite number five,
- 00:14:46.849 --> 00:14:50.252
- - I talk to those children.
- 00:14:50.252 --> 00:14:52.354
- And we say, "Educationis important."
- 00:14:52.354 --> 00:14:54.890
- We send them a mixed message
- 00:14:54.890 --> 00:14:56.425
- when we send a message thateducation is important,
- 00:14:56.425 --> 00:14:59.394
- and then we send them to aschool that is dilapidated.
- 00:14:59.394 --> 00:15:02.331
- That is not wiredfor the future.
- 00:15:02.331 --> 00:15:04.366
- This is so important.
- 00:15:04.366 --> 00:15:06.301
- Why aren't you respecting me,a student by having facilities
- 00:15:06.301 --> 00:15:10.906
- that are worthy of it.
- 00:15:10.906 --> 00:15:12.241
- - Now, I wanna go rightto Harry Hutchison
- 00:15:12.241 --> 00:15:14.076
- because Harry what I'm sureNancy Pelosi would not agree
- 00:15:14.076 --> 00:15:16.845
- with our positions on this
- 00:15:16.845 --> 00:15:18.313
- because she would wantjust more money to prop up
- 00:15:18.313 --> 00:15:20.883
- these public schools.
- 00:15:20.883 --> 00:15:22.117
- But as you point out inyour new blog on this,
- 00:15:22.117 --> 00:15:24.853
- Advancing Justice byexpanding school choice,
- 00:15:24.853 --> 00:15:27.656
- over the past 50 yearsfunding increases
- 00:15:27.656 --> 00:15:29.925
- have culminated in the US,leading the world
- 00:15:29.925 --> 00:15:32.561
- in per capitaeducation expenditures,
- 00:15:32.561 --> 00:15:35.731
- and yet Nancy Pelosistill talks about
- 00:15:35.731 --> 00:15:37.866
- the dilapidated publicschools in America?
- 00:15:37.866 --> 00:15:41.270
- - Absolutely, so one of theclear things to keep in mind
- 00:15:42.738 --> 00:15:45.674
- is that when we talkabout increasing funding
- 00:15:45.674 --> 00:15:49.511
- for public education in America,
- 00:15:49.511 --> 00:15:51.680
- generally that meansincreasing funding
- 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:54.449
- for administrative staff
- 00:15:54.449 --> 00:15:57.152
- and administrators ratherthan delivering funding
- 00:15:57.152 --> 00:16:01.189
- and increased performancein the classroom.
- 00:16:01.189 --> 00:16:05.127
- All Americans have a stakein improving education
- 00:16:05.127 --> 00:16:08.897
- in the United States.
- 00:16:08.897 --> 00:16:10.632
- And to be clear,this festering wound
- 00:16:10.632 --> 00:16:14.136
- caused by underperformingschools endures
- 00:16:14.136 --> 00:16:17.372
- despite as you point out Jordan,
- 00:16:17.372 --> 00:16:19.575
- significant funding increases
- 00:16:19.575 --> 00:16:21.743
- for public educationthroughout the nation.
- 00:16:21.743 --> 00:16:24.546
- But it's importantto keep in mind
- 00:16:24.546 --> 00:16:26.481
- that not withstanding the fact
- 00:16:26.481 --> 00:16:28.450
- that per capitaexpenditures on education
- 00:16:28.450 --> 00:16:31.954
- in the United Statesexceed every single country
- 00:16:31.954 --> 00:16:35.424
- in the world, ourperformance lags,
- 00:16:35.424 --> 00:16:39.461
- in part because there'sa negative correlation
- 00:16:39.461 --> 00:16:43.198
- between increasingpublic school funding
- 00:16:43.198 --> 00:16:46.101
- and actual performance
- 00:16:46.101 --> 00:16:48.170
- because we are notfocused on students.
- 00:16:48.170 --> 00:16:52.140
- So little has changed in theneighborhoods at the center
- 00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:56.311
- of the disruptions that havecharacterized most major urban
- 00:16:56.311 --> 00:17:00.782
- areas over the lastseveral months.
- 00:17:00.782 --> 00:17:04.086
- But keep in mind, thisrepresents the abysmal record
- 00:17:04.086 --> 00:17:08.924
- under largely progressiveeducational leadership.
- 00:17:08.924 --> 00:17:12.961
- But something needs to changeand it needs to change now.
- 00:17:12.961 --> 00:17:17.933
- So that we can improvestudent safety,
- 00:17:19.167 --> 00:17:22.938
- improve parental satisfaction
- 00:17:22.938 --> 00:17:25.674
- and involvement andsee improvements ingraduation rates,
- 00:17:25.674 --> 00:17:30.646
- make public schools moreaccountable through competition
- 00:17:32.014 --> 00:17:34.616
- and save taxpayers dollarsat the end of the day.
- 00:17:34.616 --> 00:17:39.054
- - Eileen calling from NewJersey, on line three,
- 00:17:39.054 --> 00:17:41.857
- Eileen Welcome to Jay SekulowLive, you're on the air.
- 00:17:41.857 --> 00:17:44.559
- - I'm a public school teacher.
- 00:17:45.427 --> 00:17:46.928
- And I think that absentthe discussion very often
- 00:17:46.928 --> 00:17:51.833
- is the erosion of the family.
- 00:17:51.833 --> 00:17:54.536
- - Yeah.
- 00:17:54.536 --> 00:17:55.737
- - And, we've talkedabout education,
- 00:17:55.737 --> 00:17:58.040
- as in the shape of a triangle,
- 00:17:58.040 --> 00:17:59.741
- and you need all threeparts for it to work
- 00:17:59.741 --> 00:18:01.510
- you need the parents,the students,
- 00:18:01.510 --> 00:18:03.845
- and the teacher tobe on the same page
- 00:18:03.845 --> 00:18:07.115
- and working in conjunctionwith one another.
- 00:18:07.115 --> 00:18:09.818
- But it is theerosion as a family.
- 00:18:09.818 --> 00:18:11.720
- I mean, after this virtual stuff
- 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.422
- that I've just beenthrough, it's amazing.
- 00:18:13.422 --> 00:18:15.457
- I ended up workingone-on-one with several
- 00:18:15.457 --> 00:18:17.359
- of the students becauseI didn't have the support
- 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.094
- at home to do it.
- 00:18:19.094 --> 00:18:20.328
- I was on the computerfor hours, hours.
- 00:18:20.328 --> 00:18:23.565
- And right now it justwas on my heart to do it.
- 00:18:23.565 --> 00:18:27.469
- I'm tutoring a studentfree of charge.
- 00:18:27.469 --> 00:18:29.471
- I'm having a book club
- 00:18:29.471 --> 00:18:30.939
- with other studentsduring the summer months.
- 00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:33.642
- So I think it is theerosion of the family
- 00:18:33.642 --> 00:18:35.777
- and the lack ofparental support.
- 00:18:35.777 --> 00:18:37.713
- Disdain for authority andturning away from faith
- 00:18:37.713 --> 00:18:40.082
- and mass, all of this.
- 00:18:40.082 --> 00:18:42.050
- So when you talkabout failing schools,
- 00:18:42.050 --> 00:18:44.453
- please don't just saythat it's the teachers
- 00:18:44.453 --> 00:18:47.656
- and the administrators, please.
- 00:18:47.656 --> 00:18:49.424
- - Though, and I thinkwhen we say teachers,
- 00:18:49.424 --> 00:18:51.593
- I think specificHarry and Eileen,
- 00:18:51.593 --> 00:18:53.562
- I really appreciate yourcall and your insight,
- 00:18:53.562 --> 00:18:56.665
- I think one, you'rean example of one
- 00:18:56.665 --> 00:18:58.900
- of those great teachersout there who is,
- 00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:00.368
- and I'm not sayingthere's not a lot
- 00:19:00.368 --> 00:19:01.803
- of great public school teacherswho are trying their best
- 00:19:01.803 --> 00:19:04.773
- doing everything theycan possible withthis difficult time.
- 00:19:04.773 --> 00:19:07.609
- They tried to do the onlineclasses with students
- 00:19:07.609 --> 00:19:10.178
- who didn't even havethe technologicalresources to do it.
- 00:19:10.178 --> 00:19:13.081
- And then they don't havethe parental support.
- 00:19:14.249 --> 00:19:16.184
- But Harry, reallywhat's important to this
- 00:19:16.184 --> 00:19:20.021
- is that when wetalk about teachers,
- 00:19:20.021 --> 00:19:21.256
- we're talking aboutteachers unions
- 00:19:21.256 --> 00:19:23.492
- trying to preventthis specifically.
- 00:19:23.492 --> 00:19:26.495
- - I think the caller iscertainly onto something,
- 00:19:26.495 --> 00:19:29.164
- something that Daniel PatrickMoynihan pointed out in 1965,
- 00:19:29.164 --> 00:19:33.435
- but it's also important again,
- 00:19:34.936 --> 00:19:36.938
- to lay blame at progressiveleaders for at least part
- 00:19:36.938 --> 00:19:40.542
- of the problem associatedwith the disintegration
- 00:19:40.542 --> 00:19:45.413
- of the American family.
- 00:19:45.413 --> 00:19:47.616
- This has been part and parcel,
- 00:19:47.616 --> 00:19:50.185
- I think of a deliberate program
- 00:19:50.185 --> 00:19:53.455
- initiated by progressiveleaders going back to the 1960s
- 00:19:53.455 --> 00:19:57.692
- that has seen thedisintegration of the family.
- 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:02.697
- So the disintegrationof the family,
- 00:20:02.697 --> 00:20:05.367
- the disintegrationof performance
- 00:20:05.367 --> 00:20:07.736
- with respect to publicschools in America
- 00:20:07.736 --> 00:20:09.571
- are definitely linked.
- 00:20:09.571 --> 00:20:12.307
- But right now we cando something at least
- 00:20:12.307 --> 00:20:15.610
- about improvingeducational performance
- 00:20:15.610 --> 00:20:18.980
- through school choice.
- 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.949
- - And Thann, I mean, youpoint out to that the idea
- 00:20:20.949 --> 00:20:23.585
- that when you take awayany choice from parents
- 00:20:23.585 --> 00:20:26.221
- that basically your kids
- 00:20:26.221 --> 00:20:27.722
- or for most parents out therecan't afford private school,
- 00:20:27.722 --> 00:20:30.292
- so the only optionis public schools,
- 00:20:30.292 --> 00:20:32.861
- they're also muchmore disinterested.
- 00:20:32.861 --> 00:20:34.796
- They think that the school
- 00:20:34.796 --> 00:20:36.331
- then should just handle allof it, and handle everything.
- 00:20:36.331 --> 00:20:38.934
- - Yeah I loveEoleen's call, Jordan,
- 00:20:38.934 --> 00:20:40.402
- because look for solong the government
- 00:20:40.402 --> 00:20:41.736
- has told parents,"You have no role
- 00:20:41.736 --> 00:20:43.205
- "in your students, yourchild's education."
- 00:20:43.205 --> 00:20:45.407
- And so parents have takenthe message by stepping back.
- 00:20:45.407 --> 00:20:48.009
- Eileen is absolutelycorrect that parents need
- 00:20:48.009 --> 00:20:50.545
- to step back forward.
- 00:20:50.545 --> 00:20:51.980
- But Jordan, public policyhas a role in that,
- 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.982
- public policy needs to return
- 00:20:53.982 --> 00:20:55.450
- some of that authorityto the parents
- 00:20:55.450 --> 00:20:57.052
- so that they actuallyhave a choice to make
- 00:20:57.052 --> 00:20:59.154
- when they decide to engagefor their child's education.
- 00:20:59.154 --> 00:21:01.823
- - Libna calling fromNew York, on line three,
- 00:21:01.823 --> 00:21:03.592
- Libna, thanks for holdingon, you're on the air.
- 00:21:03.592 --> 00:21:05.460
- - Thank you so muchfor this initiative.
- 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:07.996
- I am a veteran teacherin New York City
- 00:21:07.996 --> 00:21:10.966
- and this is an answer to prayer.
- 00:21:10.966 --> 00:21:13.668
- Earlier you were talking
- 00:21:14.536 --> 00:21:15.770
- about how the unionsoppose school choice,
- 00:21:15.770 --> 00:21:18.073
- I can tell you as a publicschool teacher in New York City,
- 00:21:18.073 --> 00:21:21.209
- that is absolutely true.
- 00:21:21.209 --> 00:21:23.178
- What we constantlyhear from the union
- 00:21:23.178 --> 00:21:25.881
- is that if there ismore school choice
- 00:21:25.881 --> 00:21:28.383
- and parents have theoptions to send their kids
- 00:21:28.383 --> 00:21:31.686
- to more charter schools,
- 00:21:31.686 --> 00:21:33.188
- we will end up teaching thebottom of the barrel kids.
- 00:21:33.188 --> 00:21:35.891
- - So do you think though,
- 00:21:37.792 --> 00:21:40.729
- why would thoseparents whose kids
- 00:21:40.729 --> 00:21:43.832
- are struggling themost not also decide
- 00:21:43.832 --> 00:21:45.500
- to send their kids to schools
- 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.935
- that were more helpfulmaybe with kids
- 00:21:46.935 --> 00:21:48.904
- who had learning disabilitiesor needed more attention?
- 00:21:48.904 --> 00:21:52.340
- - In the public schoolsystem in New York City,
- 00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:55.010
- what we find is thatwe do get kids back
- 00:21:55.010 --> 00:21:58.046
- from the charter schools,
- 00:21:58.046 --> 00:21:59.547
- it's a trend that kind ofhappens, if they are unable
- 00:21:59.547 --> 00:22:02.417
- to per se meettheir special needs,
- 00:22:02.417 --> 00:22:05.553
- and maybe the publicschool system has a program
- 00:22:05.553 --> 00:22:08.556
- that is more in-tunewith their needs.
- 00:22:08.556 --> 00:22:12.394
- However, the biggest problem
- 00:22:12.394 --> 00:22:14.963
- in general is thisoverpopulation.
- 00:22:14.963 --> 00:22:17.866
- The class size is overwhelming.
- 00:22:17.866 --> 00:22:19.968
- And if parents had moreof that school choice
- 00:22:21.136 --> 00:22:24.139
- that would actuallyreduce class size
- 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:26.942
- in our needy public schools,
- 00:22:26.942 --> 00:22:28.877
- and perhaps we couldhone in and focus more
- 00:22:28.877 --> 00:22:32.314
- on the needs of the population
- 00:22:32.314 --> 00:22:34.783
- that we serve.- But again there's a great
- 00:22:34.783 --> 00:22:36.284
- point there, you said, youas a public school teacher,
- 00:22:36.284 --> 00:22:37.786
- you say, "Listen that ifwe had more school choice,
- 00:22:37.786 --> 00:22:40.622
- "we'll be able tofocus more on the kids
- 00:22:40.622 --> 00:22:42.157
- "who might have the uniquespecialized programs for,
- 00:22:42.157 --> 00:22:45.460
- "that maybe the charterschools or the more
- 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:48.163
- "of these schools for likeAdvanced Placement schools,
- 00:22:48.163 --> 00:22:50.298
- "those kind of thingsare not best for,
- 00:22:50.298 --> 00:22:52.167
- "but we need to beable to work it."
- 00:22:52.167 --> 00:22:54.235
- So it actually gives youand say this is important,
- 00:22:54.235 --> 00:22:56.705
- Public Schools wouldhave greater flexibility
- 00:22:56.705 --> 00:22:58.974
- to tailor their classes tothe students most at need
- 00:22:58.974 --> 00:23:02.377
- of this, because theyhave so many resources,
- 00:23:02.377 --> 00:23:05.680
- those public schools,
- 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.881
- but when they areoverrun with students,
- 00:23:06.881 --> 00:23:09.551
- those resources go very quickly,
- 00:23:09.551 --> 00:23:11.686
- and so they can'ttailor the programs
- 00:23:11.686 --> 00:23:13.321
- to those who need it the most.
- 00:23:13.321 --> 00:23:14.856
- - I actually think the pointthat callers make in Jordan
- 00:23:14.856 --> 00:23:16.157
- is one of the strongest reasons
- 00:23:16.157 --> 00:23:17.926
- to advocate for school choice.
- 00:23:17.926 --> 00:23:19.227
- Look, there's ahuge pot of money
- 00:23:19.227 --> 00:23:20.729
- that already comes outof the federal government
- 00:23:20.729 --> 00:23:22.364
- for these purposes, about$68 billion in Jordan,
- 00:23:22.364 --> 00:23:26.101
- by the way, $23 billioncomes out of title one
- 00:23:26.101 --> 00:23:29.604
- which is supposed to help thesespecific low income schools,
- 00:23:29.604 --> 00:23:33.341
- but they're so layerdown by mandates,
- 00:23:33.341 --> 00:23:35.610
- they don't end upgiving the flexibility
- 00:23:35.610 --> 00:23:37.112
- that the caller is talkingabout, its why one of the things
- 00:23:37.112 --> 00:23:39.881
- that we're lookingat supporting Jordan,
- 00:23:39.881 --> 00:23:41.249
- there's a piece of legislationcalled the A plus X,
- 00:23:41.249 --> 00:23:43.852
- sponsored by Senator Danesand Congressman Walker,
- 00:23:43.852 --> 00:23:46.454
- which would basically
- 00:23:46.454 --> 00:23:47.956
- take that $23 billion andallow states to retailer it
- 00:23:47.956 --> 00:23:51.226
- to the kind of flexibilitythat caller is talking about.
- 00:23:51.226 --> 00:23:53.928
- You do need to maybereduce class size,
- 00:23:53.928 --> 00:23:55.864
- you need to do need tothink about other ways
- 00:23:55.864 --> 00:23:58.199
- to service those communities
- 00:23:58.199 --> 00:23:59.567
- and creating a marketplacefor new schools.
- 00:23:59.567 --> 00:24:01.636
- Jordan, how much freedomcould that $23 billion,
- 00:24:01.636 --> 00:24:05.173
- if you allow the state toget out of the mandates
- 00:24:05.173 --> 00:24:07.175
- and say, "This is our strategy,
- 00:24:07.175 --> 00:24:09.044
- "we're gonna apply it to that."
- 00:24:09.044 --> 00:24:10.712
- It would go a long way.
- 00:24:10.712 --> 00:24:11.946
- - As always, let methank everybody at TBN
- 00:24:11.946 --> 00:24:14.482
- for providing thistime to us at no cost
- 00:24:14.482 --> 00:24:17.152
- so we can update you on the most
- 00:24:17.152 --> 00:24:18.586
- important issues of the day.
- 00:24:18.586 --> 00:24:20.055
- From all of us atthe ACLJ, thanks TBN.
- 00:24:20.055 --> 00:24:22.424
- (bright upbeat music)
- 00:24:22.424 --> 00:24:25.593