Attack on Education

" is about the children. I recently introduced you to Mercedes Campbell's she's bright -- sixteen year old. Who is able to escape DC's failing public schools and attend a private school through the voucher program but now congress no children left behind. Except Mercedes and her family now voted to kill funding for vouchers. Mercedes is going to be able to graduate from her private school but her younger sister and brother are not going to be so lucky. And this is their story. Ingrid Campbell working single mom with three kids. -- moved to Washington DC from New York after nine elevenths wanting to make a better life for herself and her children."

" They had no family. No -- Fayette. So it came with. 42 dollars and a black duffel bag. And just when god. And I have to make it worth one point I was homeless for two weeks. Helped like. Fun to -- And that's what my coworkers to -- and I say that's enough for my new job and got my apartment she got a job as a receptionist stumbled upon a pamphlet that -- how little brochure that -- real skinny little specialists say if hey would you like about opportunities for your children's. This is it. And there was a lottery back then -- called the 800 no confidence for the suspension actions."

" She cashed in her Lotto tickets and came out a winner. She applied and her children were accepted but her daughter Mercedes still wasn't sold on the idea to be honest effort and not want to come here at off."

" The crowd -- in just didn't know all girls being analyzed the uniforms with the uniforms underneath. Place now that I'm here I'm an update at this basically second home thousands and no one really -- all day."

" It's not just mom who's seen a difference Dan current as the head of Mercedes school she has grown in new anyway isn't. It's a great number of our community and done very well academically socially and in every area school right."

" But now the politics is coming in the way of their education. Congress has rejected a bid to extend the DC voucher program beyond the 20092010. School year. Teachers unions don't like the -- They want the money for themselves. Civil liberties groups have spoken out against the I don't want the money from government going to parochial schools. And not a dime of stimulus funds we'll go to vouchers but for Mercedes. Vouchers are so much more than just an educational program. Eighteen graduating particularly actually east because it's not my fault that was going into a wealthy family song when the program and -- Kids like Mercedes will be transferred back into the DC public school system. Are the public schools that are younger sister and brother will be transferred into drew elementary school in 2008. At 13%. Proficiency rate in reading and -- 6%. Proficiency rate in math meanwhile. -- HDC your time. Had a 29. Proficiency rating in reading and only 18%. Rate in -- without the voucher program. Madison in the kind will be sent to."

" These school. Sad because while I'm almost finished machine. Is that she's not going to."

" It is no other alternatives. Being offered way it or not residents need to get the opportunity to -- and those who CS is not going to take out. I'm going to be gone next year so. Where they can do what is my system going to do mom and brother it is sad to see -- she's -- was sixteen at its -- figure out what she wants to do with her life just choices being taken away from her. -- Dated -- girl phenomenon and I couldn't and I can grow like when my mom there. My sister my brother going to have to suffer without that because."

" taking away but just like all great American. English is given up."

" Really don't know them and its. The job just working out at the whatever I have to do in new. Make sure that it -- such."

" Now here's super mom Ingrid Campbell and her three children three year old look. -- Kai also sixteen year old Mercedes. Nine year old Madison. Hi guys Ingrid. You know it amazes me the the voucher system. It cost 7500. Dollars to educated child in the voucher system and yet that DC school district does it for 15000. Dollars. And it's not nearly as good an education. Why what's going on here and in your world do you think."

" A world of fear that. The public school system. Have this set of curriculum. Rather -- private school what -- the school they follow a different curriculum we had a child can be challenged more challenge if necessary. And that was a reason for my choice. For my daughter to be more challenged. And it's my choice for her to put in private school. "

" Are you are you are you Catholic. Yes okay there's some people who watch and say well you know why should use tax dollars to go to a Catholic school. How would you respond to that."

" Yeah and I can't afford it. Basically and it might have this coming home from school to knowing how books on the floor and saying hey mom I have nothing to do little. There and I have a problem. And and that's why -- needed. Her to be challenged now as far as we -- is that I had to that would work and the second job to pay. Well when I learned about this program like you said earlier to a pamphlet. And it offered an opportunity for my child even though tax dollars if it benefits our future in which about children. Still so does."

" He you know they'd -- yet doesn't mean the M. The idea if the idea that he -- The politicians say that they you know they don't want to leave any child behind -- just want hope for all kids its entrance -- and yet they can send kids to a better school for half the cost. Have you. Have you talked to any of the teachers who you talk to any of these politicians there in Washington who represent you work or claim to represent you what do they say. Below."

" I met a senator here in the last time I was here misstate his head into view and he felt that a strong about it he said that. She's fighting all the way he's fighting on the way and so was everybody -- think congress trying to get turned around. And he felt sorry for us I -- also -- sadness in his eyes -- it made me feel a little more confident that I have others. That care. About this program and -- and the good fruits out of it that we're getting our kids educated. You know we we can cause otherwise it's a scholarship fund is a 100% behind me. What -- organization's support us."

" When we sent our our cameras down and men and followed you for a day and and followed Mercedes. You know it it was quite an experience experience to to see you guys go through the neighborhoods that. The Madison is going to have to go through to be able to get to school there are no grocery stories in these areas it's just liquor store after liquor store after liquor store."

" How how. How do you. It hurt feelings and concerns me. Because certainly because then it will be. The matter of safety safety and security staff haven't even had a safety and security well we're half through. Take time out from mark and ensure that the safety is they have provided. Because nobody nobody else is going to do they do today. In -- area know what's in whatever area it is always going to be danger however. Due to the liquor store is being on -- corner which grows more people industry causing me to be more wary about my kids walked in the Soviet. You know correspondence schools. So many concerns me I would it will be a burden will be a real."

" and you know it it's -- it's one thing to say you know there's a lot of people who just want to take. And they just want. You know they just they want to take it in and not work for her earnings. If you get up at 5 o'clock every morning. You go to work and come you come home estimated night. Do you have you struggled to actually. Try to buy home here in that home. You said that you are willing to sell here sell your house and it in it has to be. He'll sell your house."

" yes I mean I have no choice when it comes to -- Sheridan on education nor. And it came to progress and to be successful I'm willing to do for my children. And I'm the first time home buyer like you said. And it hurts but it. What I've read whatever have to do to make sure my kids and are properly educated -- to where they need to be to give contingent. Where they can succeed and if until life I would do whatever I have to do yes. Mercedes. What --"

" How do you feel about some -- your sister. She's nine years old by the way Madison happy birthday. They had a birthday this week at her that he says that they've had hate. How do you feel about your sister knowing -- through some of the neighborhoods that. We had you walk --"

" I'm would be so nervous about assessing -- be here as it did I will be going to college I would be silly nervous I have it having her have to -- especially since. She's always had in me for everything. She's always had me so walk to school to pick her up to make should if she's okay. And I'm not act she insists he's not used -- like that she wouldn't know what to do. When the situation came up near an ending and I had to come up with that so I think I would be eluded -- more used to it hard on the other hand she's totally Shelton. Within not a bad thing she would know what to do and -- kind of -- I -- scares me."

" we wish you only best and we'll continue to follow the story -- I tell in my heart breaks for area anger there's there's some. There there is you know I I have a lot of compassion for people who try to do the right thing live their life the right way. And do their part and you and your family certainly seem to fit into that that category. Things I don't know what I don't know what we're doing down in Washington but thanks for being on the program. What my thank you thank you for having a kid that sounds good thing if you if you like to help the Campbell family and other children in the DC voucher program please go to the website Glenn back dot com. You'll find information there."