"Put Parents in Charge" or "Pledge
Allegiance to Our Public Schools?"
Both sides of the proposed Put Parents in Charge education tax credit
bill entered trenches Monday in Rock Hill for what promises to be an
intense battle in the state legislature, which convenes today.
Monday morning, about 60 people, including every public school
superintendent in York County, attended a press conference held by
Pledge Allegiance to Our Public Schools.
The new group plans to gather signatures on petitions in opposition
to the bill to present to local legislative delegation members by the
second week in February.
Monday evening, nearly 100 people who largely favored the new law
applauded David Limbaugh, a conservative syndicated columnist and
brother of radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, as he presented arguments
in favor.
Limbaugh champions home-schoolers as "carrying the banner of liberty
for all of us" and is the author of "Persecution: How Liberals Are
Waging Political War Against Christianity." He was joined at the podium
by Eric O'Keefe of LEAD (Legislative Education Action Drive), a national
group headquartered in Chicago, and by former state superintendent of
education Barbara Nielsen, who also supports the legislation.
O'Keefe primarily fielded questions from the audience.
The bill would give tax credits on state income tax to families that
earn less than $75,000 a year and homeschool or send their children to
private schools. The credit would be subtracted from the families'
income tax bills. Gov. Mark Sanford was its first supporter.
Proponents say it would help economically disadvantaged children who
aren't performing well in public schools, at the same time creating
smaller classrooms in public schools and inspiring positive competition
for public educators.
Opponents point to the $200 million bite it would take out of the
state's general revenue fund five years after implemented without
reducing costs to public schools, which must meet standards private
schools don't face.
Monday morning's Pledge Allegiance to Our Public Schools gathering
was filled with public officials and educators, as well as two York
County Council members, Buddy Motz and Roy Blake.
"I'm a Republican and a conservative who voted for Gov. Sanford,"
Rock Hill school board president Bob Norwood told the crowd. "I am
asking fellow Republicans not to be trapped into a bad deal. Serving the
underserved population is a good thing, but supporting bad legislation
to get to that end is a bad thing."
Motz said he supports public education and wants to see the bill
defeated. He has been asked to serve on the committee to present the
Rock Hill school district's $92 million bond referendum to voters. The
bonds would construct three new schools, build additions to others and
take care of deferred maintenance projects.
"I could not in good conscience serve on that committee and support
this bill," he said. "If you take money from one place, you have to make
up for it somewhere else. Once this tax credit money is taken out, it
would impact other agencies throughout the state."
At the pro-Put Parents in Charge meeting in the evening, Nielsen was
the first to speak. Nielsen said she supports public schools but also
supports "the right to choose." While lauding gains the state's public
schools have made, she said children need "an additional model of
delivery" because not all children learn the same way.
But she acknowledged "it's going to be a difficult discussion."
"When we passed the home-school bill, it was going to be the end of
the world," she said. "When we passed the charter schools bill, it was
the same. When we established governor's schools, the same."
State Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, was the only current public
official to attend the evening meeting.
Limbaugh gained appreciative amens from the crowd as he paced back
and forth and spoke on what he called "culture war" against
Christianity. Limbaugh said the "culture war opponents" are waging their
campaign in the courts, the schools, the private sector and especially
in the schools. They have turned the freedom guaranteed in the Bill of
Rights "on its head," he said.
"The heart of this assault is going on in the public schools," he
said.
Although these warriors argue Constitutional church vs. state, "They
are comfortable promoting their own way," he said. "They indoctrinate
children to their way in the public school system. They are intolerant
of Christianity."
He argued telling a schoolchild not to speak his or her mind about
religion is suppression of free-dom.
"Nothing is more import in the culture wars than the school choice
movement," he concluded.
Karen Bair • 329-4080
kbair@heraldonline.com
