Investing in Education
Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson (1989 State of the State address to the WI legislature)
In his 1989 State of the State speech, Governor Tommy Thompson laid out some of his initial plans for welfare reform and school choice, two hallmark programs of his administration (excerpt):
Investing in Education: “Choice”
When we talk about investing in our future … no issue is more important than education.
Wisconsin is blessed with one of the nation’s very finest university and vocational education systems … and our students consistently score at the top of college entrance exams.
But, there are some problems.
Some of our students, particularly those in Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods, are being left behind.
They are not receiving the quality of education they need to one day get a good job, or to maximize their potential.
We must do better, we cannot be content with the status quo, nor can we be complacent when we know that not all of our children are receiving the best possible education.
Wisconsin is a leader … and it’s time for us to take the lead by giving students and parents a choice in education.
Two weeks ago at a White House Workshop on Choice in Education, I announced my plan to provide our parents the opportunity to choose where their children will attend school.
This is a concept that last week the Christian Science Monitor referred to as “one of the most popular and successful local education reforms in the nation.”
It has the support of President Bush, the Brookings Institute, and the Congress of Racial Equality.
Choice in education has resulted in fewer dropouts, higher test scores and satisfied parents, students and teachers in New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Maryland.
And statewide choice proposals are being assembled in many states, from California to New Jersey.
All of our children deserve equal opportunity in their education, and we must work together to implement a Wisconsin choice program …
Clearly, it cannot be done without the help of this legislature.
