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ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1

Sekulow

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,
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so help me God.
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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,
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"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
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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.
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- 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.
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- Absolutely, and theseprograms are not available
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to a majority ofstudents, even in states
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that have these programs.
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So it's very, veryimperative to expand access
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to these choice programs.
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And so if you actuallylook back at history,
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public schools usedto be accountable
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to the communities they serve.
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So if you look back atthe public school system
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in Washington, DC, in 1899,
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there were four academicpublic high schools,
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one black and three white.
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In standardized test scoresgiven an 1899 students
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in the black high schoolsaverage higher test scores
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than students in two ofthe three white schools,
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this patternprevailed until 1955.
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But things havechanged and that's why
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we need school choice now.
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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,
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)
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- Thanks to yoursupport of the ACLJ,
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we have had many victories.
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- 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.
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- If any group feels thatthey're being targeted,
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they can go to federalcourt and bring our case.
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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.
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- For the most significantwins in the ACLJ's history
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to take on the IRS and when--
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- For more than 27 yearsthe ACLJ has been fighting
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for freedom and libertyin the United States
00:11:37.393 --> 00:11:39.728
and around the globe.(crowd shouting)
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- These are young peoplein their 20s and 30s
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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.
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We've got a wholegroup of young boys
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that are defending them.
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- Those of us thatbelieve in life,
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know that we're on theright side of history,
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we understand full well,children are children,
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and they're preciousin God's sight
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and the preciousinformation side
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in the precious to parents.
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- We have to not justsay that we are pro-life,
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we have to actually be pro-life.
00:12:02.951 --> 00:12:04.953
We have to get uncomfortableto do everything
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we can to promotea culture of life.
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- And I actuallythink we're winning.
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This is one of the socialissues we're winning.
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- We have to be cognizantof the fact that globally,
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persecution is as alive andwell as it has ever been.
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- The level of persecutionis on the rise.
00:12:21.103 --> 00:12:23.105
It's being reported more.
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- We're talking about situations
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where people are put in jail,
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threatened with death,
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or life imprisonment, simplybecause of who they are,
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and what they believe.
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- For the releaseof Andrew Brunson.
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He is The American evangelicalfrom North Carolina
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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

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ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1

ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1

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ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1

ACLJ Launches New School Choice Initiative Part 1

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