U.S. Senator Jerry Moran visited Flint Hills Christian School on Monday to get a closer look at how local schools operate.
Senator Moran says he travels to see around 30 academic institutions every year, mostly public schools, so the purpose of Monday’s visit was to see the differences between public and private school operations.
“I try to connect with younger people,” Moran said. “Many of the things I do cause me to be surrounded by people nearly my age and sometimes older, so this gives me a chance to have contact with students, teachers and administrators. I think some people want Washington D.C. to solve all the world’s problems, but so much of the change that I think this country needs is going to take place in classrooms all across the country.”
Flint Hills Christian Head of School Matt Zimmerman gave the Senator a tour of the campus that started off with a special choir performance from elementary school students.
Moran spent time visiting with students and teachers in each classroom.
“It was just great to see students who, in almost every instance, seemed eager to learn,” he said. “Teachers who seemed excited and pleased to be teaching and a sense that there’s an understanding of morals and right from wrong, both in the teachers and in the students. The politeness and respect that was shown to me by both teachers and students was great.”
After the tour, Zimmerman spoke about school choice, noting Senate Bill 509, currently working through the Kansas Legislature.
“It stalled out last year, passed out of committee, passed both the House and Senate and then got line-item vetoed by the governor. Now it’s gone back into committee and it’s looking more like an education savings account, so it’s looking a bit more promising,” he said.
The bill would allow taxpayers with children enrolled in private schools to receive a refundable tax credit, as long as those children are also eligible to enroll in a public school. Critics say the measure is essentially a voucher program that would harm public schools.
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