Students from Websterville Christian Academy, Thaddeus Stevens School in Caledonia County, and home schoolers gathered today, Friday January 27 at the Vermont State House to celebrate National School Choice Week.
“Many may not know it, but Vermont actually pioneered the concept of school choice more than a century and a half ago,” coordinator Brad Ferland said. “The town tuitioning program, created in 1869, allows families living in towns without public schools to select other schools, whether public or private.”
Ferland noted in a published statement, “We believe that expanding and revitalizing Vermont’s historic school choice program will help to revitalize the state’s rural communities, and ultimately its economy. More, and better, quality educational options will encourage families to move from urban centers to Vermont—or will keep families thinking of moving elsewhere to maintain their roots in the Green Mountain State.”
“Over the years we have heard testimony of students who exercised choice for many reasons. Academic offerings specific to a child’s needs. Bullying, classes too large, social issues, personal issues, family issues. On and on. Something wasn’t working. And we don’t see a giant exodus of students leaving the public schools. School Choice helps serves a population in need, a population that can do better in new settings. And it works both ways. From public to private, from private to public,” Ferland said.
Students received a tour of the State House, and were reminded that the capitol building belongs to them as much as it belongs to any adult – and perhaps more so because they have more of their lives ahead of them.