American Parents and Students Need School Choice

On Sunday, February 7, I had the privilege of hosting "Save the Nation" on Newsmax TV for the first time. America is at a critical point in the fight to limit government and preserve liberty, and I’m grateful to be able to help plot a positive, pro-economy path forward for conservatives.

As I mentioned at the end of the premiere, I have a newborn son who makes the fight for liberty more personal than ever. I chose to work in the grassroots because I know that it is the only real way to drive effective political change; but with my first son having entered the world just a month ago, my career choice has gained a whole new level of meaning.

I always knew that the policies I am fighting for will have a direct impact on the next generation. The difference now, however, is that this next generation includes my son.

The fire was in me before, that’s for sure; but because of my son, it has increased tenfold.

One of the most important conversations in American politics, and the outcome of which will have big consequences for my son’s generation, is the one surrounding school choice.

When my son grows up and starts school, I want to be able to put him in a school that best suits his unique needs. I know that every other parent wants the same.

The good news is that the school choice movement is gaining momentum, especially with teachers unions refusing to return to the classroom and online school proving to be a disaster for many families.

Still, there is work to be done. Despite the fact that expanding access to education alternatives has no proven downsides, there remains a concerted push against school choice.

Teachers unions repeat the myth that expanding alternatives to traditional schooling "takes money away from public schools."

And throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, leftist politicians who promote unscientific lockdowns have also taken to promoting baseless claims about schools being "super-spreaders" of the virus. Millions of kids stuck at home continue to suffer as months and even years of academic, emotional and mental progress come undone.

We shouldn’t look to the Biden administration for relief from this crisis. At a recent briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki dodged a question from an intrepid reporter asking whether the administration would side with teachers unions or students.

The administration continues to refuse any support for reopening schools, despite the president’s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director saying that this could be done safely. Now parents and students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, are paying the price for spineless and downright crooked leadership. It is a sad truth that liberal education policies victimize the very individuals for whom the left claims to be advocating.

Following the events of 2020, school choice is no doubt going to take center stage in the liberty movement going forward; I remain hopeful that 2021 can be a turning point.

As an American, and now as a father, it pains me to watch as so many parents and children continue to suffer.

If Democrats continue to push for school closures and failed lockdowns, Americans should take this opportunity to stand up for educational freedom.

For the sake of our kids, let’s make sure that every parent has the chance to send his/her kid to a school where that kid will not just go through the motions of schooling, but thrive.