Editorial: Catholic Governor Chris Christie Calls for Parental Choice in Education

Catholic Online ^ | 5/6/2010 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

Since his election as the first Republican Governor of New Jersey in twelve years, Catholic Governor Christopher J. "Chris" Christie has been making news! He was the keynote speaker at the American Federation of Children National Policy Summit Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 3, 2010. Once again he surprised observers with his candor - and his refreshing willingness to shake up the "same old/same old" approach to politics and public policy.

He strongly endorsed parental choice in education or what is often called "School Choice".

Governor Christie is a practicing Catholic. ... He was equally frank in addressing this reality, "A single mother in Newark working two jobs to keep a roof over her child's head should have no less ability to make that choice than my wife and I had."

"School Choice", or more accurately, "Parental Choice" - since parents are the ones who should make the decision - is one of the areas where the claim of concern for children expressed in some sectors of the educational establishment rings hollow. The unwillingness of those in charge of the Federal Educational Bureaucracy to consider this approach at a time when we all know the educational system is broken exposes the difference between rhetoric and reality....

[tcg]

Parental choice in education is right for our children, right for our parents and right for our Nation.

Governor Christie is a practicing Catholic. He and his wife have chosen to send their children to Catholic Schools. They can also afford to do so. However, he is mindful of the basic injustice involved when other parents are trapped by a system which does not allow them to do what is best for their children. "A single mother in Newark working two jobs to keep a roof over her child's head should have no less ability to make that choice than my wife and I had."

[Tribune7]

ping

[exit82]

To those who know little of NJ—The educational system in Newark has been a failure for decades.

Condemning a child to go to these goverenment run schools is a crime.

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Not stated exactly right. It should read, if I may:
The educational system in the UNITED STATES has been a failure for many years.
Compelling children, by law,to REMAIN in failing schools is in itself an act of CRUELTY to CHILDREN.
Yes, there are many, many GOOD schools, but no reason for the failures to improve...their “customers” are trapped.

[achilles2000]

Almost right.... “Condemning children to government schools is a crime.”

[bwc2221]

My disagreement with Christie is that schools of choice should be available to all Americans, not just the poor.

[Renkluaf]

I was told by someone prior to last November's gubernatorial election that many of the ministers in Newark's churches were hopping he'd push vouchers through and, as a result, were quietly supportive of him. Supposedly, they see it as the only way to salvage an education for inner-city kids.

[Coleus]

My disagreement with Christie is that schools of choice should be available to all Americans, not just the poor. >>

NJ has a democrat legislature, this legislature has a bill already written which includes about 6 inner-city towns with failing school districts. You have to take incremental steps when they come, this is a step in the right direction just like a parental notification bill is an incremental step in the abortion issue.

[Coleus]

catholic ping

[Temple Owl]

ping