America does have a choice. We can pass voucher schemes that violate our constitutional principles, that would make a mockery of every American's right to support only the religious groups of her choosing and that would threaten the existence of public schools. Or we can work to improve the public schools, guarantee educational opportunities for all of our children and leave religion strong and healthy by requiring it to rely on voluntary contributions, not handouts from the taxpayer. Ultimately, the choice is easy. In America, students can use their Pell Grants and veterans can use their G.I. Bill funds to attend religious colleges.
Moms receiving federal daycare vouchers can send their children to religious childcare providers.
Food stamp recipients may shop in kosher grocery stores. Poor and disabled children attending religious schools can receive an array of publicly financed aid. And all of us can make contributions to churches or religious schools and deduct them from our taxes. Graduation rates in many large inner cities are below 50 percent. In some urban centers, children statistically are more likely to be victims of crime in public schools than to graduate on-time with basic proficiency.