WINGERT: How did you experiment with this in Houston? PAIGE: We had some schools that were just totally overcrowded. Was it better to put these kids on a bus and add 45 to 60 minutes to their drive time to put them in a school across town when in the same community was a private school, certified by the Texas Education Agency, which agreed to be supervised by my staff? We made an arrangement with them, because it was in the best interest of the child–not the system.
Critics say it will destroy public schools. The president is a passionate supporter of public schools. He understands that the worst alternative is to continue to erode public confidence in public schools… that will take more money away than what they call “vouchers” will.
