Bill before Congress would harm education

Dear Editor: Our Congress is considering a bill — H.R. 610 — that, if passed, will have a devastating effect on our public education as we know it.

The bill would effectively start the school voucher system to be used by students ages 5 to 17 and also start the process of defunding public schools.

This bill also would eliminate the Elementary and Education Act of 1965, which provides equal opportunity in education for all children.

If passed, the bill would eliminate programs for struggling learners, Advanced Placement classes, English-as-a-Second-Language classes, classes for minorities, school safety programs (no-gun school zones), as well as monitoring compliance and federal accountability, among other restrictions.

This bill has no wording whatsoever protecting all the vulnerable children such as those who are disabled, homeless, underprivileged or part of any other minority group.

I understand that our public school system is not perfect and that clearly there is need for revision and correction, but this bill takes us to a whole new level — a level that our general population would understand as removing equal opportunity in education for the vast majority of students in this country.

Disbanding provisions for equal opportunity in public education will ensure the separation of the elite from the populace.

Many bills that are brought to the floor have many hidden agendas buried deep within the constraints of the vast amount of pages that are attached. Many agendas have to do with the lobbying that goes along with that particular department so that a great deal that slides through our House and Senate is supported by special-interest groups and not necessarily for the good of the people.

Readers, contact your representatives to let them know you understand the ramifications of these hidden agendas and that you vote “no” for defunding of our public education system, and that you favor improving the specifications that already are in our educational laws that benefit all children. Rita Vanacore Shokan