Paul Asks Colleagues to Support High Quality Education

FOR RELEASE: March 17, 2000

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, Congressman Ron Paul wrote a letter to all of his colleagues in Congress asking them to stand up for high quality education for our nation's children. The letter asked members to cosponsor Paul's "Family Education Freedom Act" (HR 935) which gives parents a $3,000 per year tax credit for each child's education expenses.

"In order to restore true parental control of education, I have introduced the 'Family Education Freedom Act,'" said Paul. "It gives parents the ability to ensure their children receive a top rate education. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in taking a stand for America's children."

Paul said federal control over the education dollar is harmful to providing children with a quality education. He cited a Department of Education endorsement of "new math" as just one example of the danger the federal government poses to education. New math does not emphasize traditional mathematics, but instead encourages children to "independently discover" math where there is no right or wrong answer in order to build self-esteem.

Paul said, "I am outraged that programs like 'new math' have infiltrated the classroom. This did not come about until the federal government seized control of education from parents and local school districts. Our children are being used as guinea pigs for experiments with education fads, and it must stop now if we are to ensure a properly educated workforce in the future."

The "Family Education Freedom Act" would give parents a $3,000 per year tax credit for each child's education related expenses. It would allow parents the maximum amount of freedom in determining how to educate their children. It would also be free of guidelines and restrictions that only dilute the actual number of dollars spent directly on a child.

Paul said, "Thirty years of centralized education have produced nothing but failure and frustrated parents. Should bureaucrats who endorse notions like 'new math' control the education dollar, or should parents whose sole concern is the education of their child? I will stand with the parents, and I call on all of my colleagues to join me in fighting for improved education by giving dollars and authority back to parents and local school districts."