Bush Repeats Support for School Vouchers

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, celebrating the nation's first federally funded school voucher program set up in the District of Columbia, said Friday he hopes it will turn into "change across the country" in education.

"At some point in time, in order to challenge mediocrity where we find mediocrity, parents have to be given other options," Bush said in a speech at Archbishop Carroll High School.

With his recently submitted budget proposal for 200, Bush is trying again to persuade Congress to go along with a national pilot program for children to attend private and religious schools at federal taxpayers' expense. He has asked for $50 million for school vouchers nationwide in the budget year that starts Oct. 1.

The president asked for $50 million in 2003 and $75 million in 2004 for vouchers. All that survived is a $14 million private school-choice program for low-income children in underperforming public schools in the District of Columbia.

more..................

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-vouchers,0,1408924.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[AZCat]

1. "Challenge mediocrity where we find mediocrity"

That's why in November, vote Democratic!

:dem:

[bif]

2. Is our current form of government a Mediotocracy?

n/t

[Bridget Burke]

3. Meanwhile, in the Houston ISD

"Houston school board members unanimously agreed Thursday to accept $115,000 in charitable donations that will be funneled to an educational software company founded by Neil Bush, the brother of President Bush.

"A watchdog group and legal scholars earlier this week said the deal raised legal and ethical concerns because Bush and officials of his company were involved in soliciting the donations to the HISD Foundation, a philanthropic group that helps the Houston Independent School District.

"HISD trustees delayed a vote on the matter in December, saying they were concerned that Bush's Austin-based company, Ignite, might be benefiting from his family name. On Thursday, the nine board members approved the funding without discussion.

".....In other action, trustees unanimously approved a plan to offer early retirement packages to more than 200 nonteaching employees to help address a $30 million budget shortfall caused by reduced state funding and increased health-care and utility costs."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2400677

The Bush family is SO education minded! (Neil was not here to deal with this personally. He was last seen in France, where the future Mrs. Neil Bush (the second) is spending the year.)

Extra info: Neil's model daughter Lauren attended Houston's Kinkaid School; Shrub attended for a year after the family left Midland--before he was sent to Andover. Annual tuition there is $8,650 to $11,825, with only 21% of applicants gaining admission. Vouchers will certainly help the poor of Houston get a good Kinkaid education.