Rep. Burgess Owens on Merit, Innovation, & National Security

00:29:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_v5OKwdnuY

Sintesi

TLDRThe podcast "Freedom to Learn," hosted by Jenny Gentles from the Defense of Freedom Institute, features Congressman Burgess Owens discussing educational reform in the U.S. Owens, a former NFL player and committed advocate for education freedom, shares his insights on the need for educational innovation, emphasizing a merit-based system and the importance of providing school choice through mechanisms like a federal tax credit. As chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Owens argues for prioritizing student needs over bureaucratic inertia, and he highlights the significant role teachers and quality education play in fostering respect and competition in society. He stresses the current educational challenges posed by teachers' unions and ideological shifts that could undermine fundamental American values. Owens's proposal, the Educational Choice for Children Act, suggests creating scholarship grant organizations supported by tax credits to fund diverse educational options for students across the U.S., thereby reducing dependency on governmental control. The episode concludes with Derrell Bradford challenging the myth that educational choice primarily benefits wealthy families, while advocating for broader educational equality.

Punti di forza

  • 🎤 Congressman Burgess Owens speaks on educational reform.
  • 🏈 Owens, a former NFL player, is passionate about education.
  • 📚 Educational reform should focus on merit and innovation.
  • 💡 The podcast argues for school choice through tax credits.
  • ✊ Challenges in reform include teacher unions and ideologies.
  • 🗣️ Owens emphasizes teaching respect and competitive skills.
  • 💡 Idea: Educational Choice for Children Act.
  • 🌟 Merit and quality education are vital for societal respect.
  • 🏫 Importance of reducing bureaucratic control in education.
  • 🤔 Myth: Educational choice only benefits the wealthy.

Linea temporale

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    This podcast episode of 'Freedom to Learn' discusses the education policy landscape in the US. With Virginia Fox stepping down from her leadership role, education circles are curious about the future leadership of the committee. The episode features Congressman Burgess Owens, who advocates for bold education reform and a federal school choice tax credit. Owens, who grew up in the segregated South, underscores the importance of merit in education and challenges posed by teachers' unions and ideologies.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Congressman Owens shares his personal history and insights into education, emphasizing the importance of being able to compete and innovate. He describes his upbringing in the South, underscoring the transformative power of education and merit. He also reflects on his Congressional efforts focusing on revitalizing education by prioritizing innovation and skill-based learning, while also respecting the teaching profession.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    Owens discusses challenges like the lack of innovation in education and the need for respect for teachers. He highlights efforts to introduce market-driven approaches in education and emphasizes the formation of a merit caucus. The caucus aims to focus on merit as key to revitalizing American education and ensuring equity and excellence through school choice reforms.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    The discussion turns to expanding educational freedom through a proposed federal tax credit, which has widespread public and bipartisan support. Owens explains how this initiative can empower parents to choose appropriate educational settings for their children, suggesting that education should put students first, not systems or bureaucracies. Challenges from teachers' unions and certain political ideologies that resist change are also noted.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:29:50

    The podcast concludes with Owens and the host discussing the vital role of hearings in informing the public about education system issues, such as the problematic FAFSA rollout. Owens emphasizes the need for innovation and accountability in government, drawing on his background in sports and business to outline a vision for engaging parents and communities in education reform. The segment ends with a discussion on myths around school choice programs and opposition strategies.

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Mappa mentale

Mind Map

Domande frequenti

  • Who is the podcast host?

    The podcast is hosted by Jenny Gentles, Director of Education Freedom and Parental Rights at DFI.

  • What is Congressman Owens's background?

    Congressman Owens is a former NFL player and entrepreneur who grew up in the segregated South with educator parents.

  • What does Congressman Owens advocate for regarding education?

    He advocates for educational reform focusing on merit, innovation, and a federal school choice tax credit.

  • What are the main challenges facing educational reform?

    Challenges include resistance from teachers' unions and ideologies that undermine core values.

  • What is the content of the podcast's final segment?

    It tackles myths about educational freedom programs, featuring guest Derrell Bradford.

  • Is there bipartisan support for educational tax credits?

    Yes, there is significant bipartisan support among American voters for educational tax credits.

  • What is the Educational Choice for Children Act?

    It's a proposal to allow donations to scholarship organizations that enable school choice without federal oversight.

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Scorrimento automatico:
  • 00:00:03
    welcome to freedom to learn the podcast
  • 00:00:05
    at Champions choice in education def
  • 00:00:07
    friends parental rights and exposes the
  • 00:00:09
    harm caused by school unions I'm Jenny
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    gentles Director of Education freedom
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    and parental rights at DFI the defensive
  • 00:00:16
    Freedom Institute in Washington
  • 00:00:20
    DC with us House Education and the
  • 00:00:23
    workforce committee chairwoman Virginia
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    Fox stepping down from her leadership
  • 00:00:26
    role at the end of this Congressional
  • 00:00:28
    session education policy circles are
  • 00:00:30
    wondering who will lead the committee
  • 00:00:31
    next I've interviewed two top contenders
  • 00:00:34
    representative Burgess Owens from Utah
  • 00:00:36
    and representative Tim Wahlberg of
  • 00:00:38
    Michigan this week's episode features
  • 00:00:40
    Congressman Burgess Owens who is a
  • 00:00:42
    former NFL player entrepreneur and a
  • 00:00:45
    staunch advocate for Education Freedom
  • 00:00:47
    growing up in the segregated South with
  • 00:00:49
    two educator parents Congressman Owens
  • 00:00:51
    witnessed firsthand the transformative
  • 00:00:53
    power of Education in this episode of
  • 00:00:55
    freedom to learn representative Owens
  • 00:00:57
    will discuss the urgent need to
  • 00:00:58
    revitalize our education system
  • 00:01:00
    including a bold proposal for a federal
  • 00:01:03
    school choice tax credit he'll emphasize
  • 00:01:05
    the critical role of Merit in creating a
  • 00:01:07
    competitive free society and explore how
  • 00:01:10
    we can build a system that puts students
  • 00:01:12
    not bureaucracies first we'll also dive
  • 00:01:14
    into the challenges that stand in the
  • 00:01:16
    way of real reform from teachers unions
  • 00:01:19
    to ideologies that threaten to undermine
  • 00:01:21
    our core values Congressman Owens
  • 00:01:23
    represents Utah's fourth congressional
  • 00:01:25
    district he played football at the
  • 00:01:27
    University of Miami followed by Sten
  • 00:01:29
    with the New York Jets and the Oakland
  • 00:01:30
    Raiders after retiring from the NFL he
  • 00:01:33
    transitioned to the business World
  • 00:01:34
    working in corporate sales and founding
  • 00:01:37
    Second Chance For Youth representative
  • 00:01:39
    Owens serves on the house education and
  • 00:01:42
    Workforce committee and the house
  • 00:01:43
    transportation and infrastructure
  • 00:01:45
    committee stick around for the final
  • 00:01:47
    segment of the freedom to learn podcast
  • 00:01:49
    special mythbusting guest derell
  • 00:01:51
    Bradford president of 50an is back to
  • 00:01:54
    tackle the claim that education Freedom
  • 00:01:55
    programs are designed to benefit wealthy
  • 00:01:58
    families
  • 00:02:01
    Congressman Owens welcome to freedom to
  • 00:02:03
    learn I am so looking forward to delving
  • 00:02:05
    into what the next Congressional session
  • 00:02:07
    might look like on the K12 education
  • 00:02:09
    front we'll also talk a little bit about
  • 00:02:11
    higher education but I wanted to start
  • 00:02:13
    with your story and your steadfast
  • 00:02:15
    commitment to expanding education
  • 00:02:17
    Freedom could you share a little bit
  • 00:02:19
    about your background absolutely well I
  • 00:02:22
    grew up in the Deep South and uh in the
  • 00:02:24
    60s my dad was a college educator so was
  • 00:02:26
    my mom I was able to understand the
  • 00:02:29
    power of education because our community
  • 00:02:31
    was really focused on making sure we can
  • 00:02:34
    compete that we can um command respect
  • 00:02:36
    you can only do that when you can
  • 00:02:38
    actually U be be productive and and
  • 00:02:40
    bring and uh some some different ideas
  • 00:02:42
    and thoughts to the process so I I grew
  • 00:02:45
    up in a remarkable environment was
  • 00:02:46
    University of Miami and um and they came
  • 00:02:48
    out of NFL play NL for 10 years I've
  • 00:02:50
    been since then a a corporate sales rep
  • 00:02:52
    I've been an entrepreneur and I'll say
  • 00:02:55
    this probably the most important Legacy
  • 00:02:57
    I'll ever have when I look back on my
  • 00:02:59
    experience of life will be what we do
  • 00:03:01
    here with education uh education is the
  • 00:03:03
    true national security issue and I look
  • 00:03:06
    at it same way as I look at our our
  • 00:03:07
    military you know we know how important
  • 00:03:09
    it is to invest to make sure we can
  • 00:03:11
    protect our American citizens that we
  • 00:03:12
    can uh hold on to our freedom well if we
  • 00:03:14
    don't do the same thing within we don't
  • 00:03:17
    have our children learning how to to to
  • 00:03:19
    read WR think to be proud of who we are
  • 00:03:21
    to understand our history and and
  • 00:03:23
    understand how we're becoming more
  • 00:03:24
    perfect union if we don't do that then
  • 00:03:26
    we will R from within so that has
  • 00:03:29
    actually been the problem we've had and
  • 00:03:30
    we need to make sure that we're
  • 00:03:31
    addressing both K through2 and haret
  • 00:03:34
    make sure our kids come out very very
  • 00:03:36
    productive so I hear you saying that
  • 00:03:38
    you've got that educator in your family
  • 00:03:41
    history do you think that influenced
  • 00:03:42
    your interest in education and
  • 00:03:44
    recognizing that getting education right
  • 00:03:47
    is absolutely
  • 00:03:48
    essential I had a chance to understand
  • 00:03:51
    what it was when the Educators focused
  • 00:03:54
    on making sure those that they can
  • 00:03:56
    influence were learning my parents were
  • 00:03:58
    was part of that group matter of fact
  • 00:04:00
    during the time I was growing up
  • 00:04:01
    teaching was a remarkably successful and
  • 00:04:03
    and respected occupation I think
  • 00:04:06
    particularly in the black community
  • 00:04:08
    because the idea was how can we make
  • 00:04:10
    sure as we broke out of segregation
  • 00:04:12
    command respect from other Americans
  • 00:04:14
    that we were truly you know productive
  • 00:04:17
    uh um Americans add to our to our
  • 00:04:20
    society so that was how we did it we
  • 00:04:22
    wanted our kids to go out and compete in
  • 00:04:24
    the society and show that we can think
  • 00:04:26
    we can we can solve we can run
  • 00:04:28
    businesses we can run amilies like
  • 00:04:30
    anyone else can so that's what that
  • 00:04:31
    Community was when I was growing up so
  • 00:04:33
    no question I that's an example of the
  • 00:04:36
    commitment my parents had I understand
  • 00:04:38
    what it is to have that Focus to have
  • 00:04:40
    that commitment and I I think I pulled
  • 00:04:42
    from watching that my parents commission
  • 00:04:45
    and a passion for this so I'm I'm
  • 00:04:47
    excited about being part of this of this
  • 00:04:49
    solution I think we're entering a part
  • 00:04:51
    now where American people are really
  • 00:04:54
    understanding the importance of this so
  • 00:04:55
    they're going to be part of the the
  • 00:04:57
    solution along with legislators like
  • 00:05:00
    myself who America First who believe
  • 00:05:02
    that this is something we have to do for
  • 00:05:04
    our kids you put that combination
  • 00:05:05
    together with a president who also going
  • 00:05:08
    to make sure education is put in the
  • 00:05:09
    right right light we we're gonna have
  • 00:05:11
    some really remarkable opportunities the
  • 00:05:12
    next next few
  • 00:05:14
    years definitely been laying the
  • 00:05:15
    groundwork in your time in Congress I've
  • 00:05:17
    heard you say every child deserves a
  • 00:05:20
    shot at the American dream regardless of
  • 00:05:22
    zip code how have your personal
  • 00:05:26
    experiences inspired your support for
  • 00:05:29
    for that
  • 00:05:30
    belief I think the biggest part of my
  • 00:05:33
    experience was I grew up when education
  • 00:05:37
    was a focal point by all Everybody by
  • 00:05:39
    parents uh by the teachers um we didn't
  • 00:05:43
    have the influence at that time of of
  • 00:05:44
    teacher Union so I don't we didn't see
  • 00:05:47
    that but we did have had to the uh the I
  • 00:05:50
    guess the focal point of making sure
  • 00:05:52
    that we can compete so I grew up at a
  • 00:05:54
    time when uh and this is what's so
  • 00:05:56
    important to realize even though we were
  • 00:05:58
    segregated community the black community
  • 00:06:00
    LED our country and the men PR men M
  • 00:06:04
    from
  • 00:06:05
    college entrepreneurs and percentage of
  • 00:06:08
    of men committed to marriage all those
  • 00:06:10
    things kind of fall into being uh being
  • 00:06:13
    dreamers if you can be a dreamer and and
  • 00:06:15
    have the the the vision to be able to go
  • 00:06:18
    out and produce and compete then the
  • 00:06:20
    community benefits from that so I I I
  • 00:06:22
    lived it when when when around me kids
  • 00:06:25
    were aspiring to do great things I when
  • 00:06:27
    I left T in Florida I went to my to play
  • 00:06:30
    football but my the reason football is
  • 00:06:33
    part of the process is I wanted that to
  • 00:06:34
    allow me to have an education become a
  • 00:06:36
    ring biologist so my my my dad's
  • 00:06:38
    influence during the Summers he did
  • 00:06:40
    research projects that's what he he was
  • 00:06:42
    an agronomist got PhD in Ohio State so
  • 00:06:45
    being in that environment and realizing
  • 00:06:47
    the possibilities what can happen it it
  • 00:06:49
    gives you a whole different view on
  • 00:06:51
    America and the the things we can do
  • 00:06:53
    here so that was probably the biggest
  • 00:06:55
    part of my background is having that
  • 00:06:56
    environment growing up to see just how
  • 00:06:58
    impactful uh educ
  • 00:07:00
    debate well you've come to Congress and
  • 00:07:03
    been very active on the education front
  • 00:07:04
    in your role on the education and
  • 00:07:06
    Workforce committee talk to us about
  • 00:07:08
    some of your your accomplishments that
  • 00:07:10
    you're really proud of there I'll say
  • 00:07:12
    the thing that I'm most excited about is
  • 00:07:14
    the Highlight or the priorities that we
  • 00:07:17
    have put on education uh as a party we'
  • 00:07:20
    just never thought that was important we
  • 00:07:22
    kind of gave it to the other side that's
  • 00:07:23
    why I was called education and labor now
  • 00:07:26
    it's education of Workforce because we
  • 00:07:28
    focus on that piece of it that skills
  • 00:07:30
    skill-based information or Pro process
  • 00:07:33
    to get people ready to go out and and
  • 00:07:34
    and get careers done uh with my first
  • 00:07:36
    term I was the uh chair of the the
  • 00:07:39
    subcommittee for pre of 12 right now I'm
  • 00:07:42
    the chair of the uh subcommittee of HED
  • 00:07:45
    so it it gives me a good chance to see
  • 00:07:47
    the entire picture of what we need to
  • 00:07:49
    get done and it's all about one simple
  • 00:07:50
    thing we need to bring Innovation to
  • 00:07:52
    this industry our education is still
  • 00:07:54
    back in the 1800s we still fit our kids
  • 00:07:58
    in a row of seats with teacher up front
  • 00:08:00
    everybody teaching the same thing the
  • 00:08:01
    Bell Rings we go to a different class we
  • 00:08:03
    need to be Innovative we need to first
  • 00:08:04
    of all think about ways we can think
  • 00:08:07
    outside the box of how we can address
  • 00:08:09
    every kid's needs we all think
  • 00:08:11
    differently we all have different
  • 00:08:12
    passions well how do we focus and get
  • 00:08:14
    that done and I we have ways we're
  • 00:08:16
    looking at doing that we also have to
  • 00:08:18
    make sure we're bringing respect back to
  • 00:08:20
    the occupation this should be this is
  • 00:08:22
    the only place the only industry that
  • 00:08:25
    there's no free market influence only
  • 00:08:28
    place we have great teachers to be paid
  • 00:08:30
    as well as the worst teachers the only
  • 00:08:32
    place that the the best teachers have
  • 00:08:34
    Innovative thoughts and ideas have so
  • 00:08:36
    are so saddled that they end up leaving
  • 00:08:38
    because they just get so frustrated we
  • 00:08:40
    need to figure out a way that the best
  • 00:08:42
    of the best around our country that love
  • 00:08:44
    this like my parents did that they can
  • 00:08:46
    afford to come to this industry and give
  • 00:08:47
    their talents and and we're looking at
  • 00:08:49
    different ways of doing that this is one
  • 00:08:51
    thing that I'm so excited about because
  • 00:08:52
    of my our usal background because my
  • 00:08:55
    background of been great been raised in
  • 00:08:57
    the time where I know the possibilities
  • 00:08:59
    of what can can happen I think we have
  • 00:09:01
    an opportunity for the next four years
  • 00:09:03
    to bring the type of innovation to our
  • 00:09:06
    school systems that we can not only
  • 00:09:07
    bring respect back bring the best
  • 00:09:09
    teachers back but have our kids leaving
  • 00:09:11
    the top of their of the class middle or
  • 00:09:14
    end of the world and uh terms of how
  • 00:09:17
    where we stand but at the very very top
  • 00:09:19
    of it well you founded um a merit caucus
  • 00:09:22
    I believe so that that aspect of Merit
  • 00:09:24
    is important to you as well what what do
  • 00:09:27
    you hope to see on that Merit is
  • 00:09:28
    everything uh Merit is what makes our
  • 00:09:30
    country what it is uh and I think it's
  • 00:09:32
    important for us to to recognize that
  • 00:09:34
    the minute we start pulling Merit away
  • 00:09:36
    we losing the very Soul heart of our
  • 00:09:38
    nation and we have to also understand
  • 00:09:40
    this and this is important education is
  • 00:09:42
    something we almost take for granted
  • 00:09:44
    that we can just drop our kids off and
  • 00:09:46
    they're going be taught the right things
  • 00:09:47
    and they're goingon to come back and go
  • 00:09:48
    to college and they're going to be
  • 00:09:49
    running circles around us one day well
  • 00:09:52
    no that's not what's happening right now
  • 00:09:53
    because we're taking our eyes off the
  • 00:09:55
    goal we we taking our uh we're not
  • 00:09:58
    focused in terms of what education
  • 00:10:00
    should look like we have a whole
  • 00:10:01
    different ideologist coming in that's
  • 00:10:03
    taking away ideas of Merit for instance
  • 00:10:05
    that's that's looking at things like Dei
  • 00:10:07
    which basically says I'm going to judge
  • 00:10:09
    you on my skin color on your skin color
  • 00:10:11
    and and and not what's inside what's
  • 00:10:13
    your content character is we left out
  • 00:10:14
    with so many decades ago we cannot go
  • 00:10:16
    back so the Merit caucus very simply
  • 00:10:19
    says one one simple thing that bring the
  • 00:10:21
    best bring the best of your talents
  • 00:10:23
    bring your best mind bring your best
  • 00:10:25
    physical attributes whatever it might be
  • 00:10:27
    Merit is how we win this and Merit is
  • 00:10:29
    how we gain control or respect for each
  • 00:10:31
    other we put that to the top of the
  • 00:10:34
    conversation and our country will come
  • 00:10:36
    back strong once again because we do
  • 00:10:38
    believe in marit you are as we've said a
  • 00:10:41
    a great supporter of school choice of
  • 00:10:42
    Education Freedom you've said through
  • 00:10:44
    expanded access to education Freedom we
  • 00:10:46
    fulfill the promise and deliver for
  • 00:10:48
    American families by funding students
  • 00:10:51
    over systems and ensuring parents have a
  • 00:10:53
    seat at the table how can Congress do
  • 00:10:56
    that specifically so we can have
  • 00:10:58
    caucuses and we do with the school
  • 00:10:59
    choice caucus and we can have hearings
  • 00:11:03
    but specifically with policy proposals
  • 00:11:06
    what do you see happening to expand
  • 00:11:08
    education Freedom well I'm gonna answer
  • 00:11:10
    that before talk about the hearings I
  • 00:11:12
    want to just highlight that real quickly
  • 00:11:13
    when you see these hears particular the
  • 00:11:15
    last last couple years that we've had
  • 00:11:17
    when it comes to anti-Semitism or Dei I
  • 00:11:20
    understand those hearings are not there
  • 00:11:21
    to convince those that are saying in
  • 00:11:23
    front us all us to change our ways the
  • 00:11:26
    the hear is are there to make sure
  • 00:11:27
    American people understand where we are
  • 00:11:29
    what's going on and why they need to be
  • 00:11:31
    engaged the idea that that we have to
  • 00:11:33
    put together bills that says that
  • 00:11:34
    parents have rights says we've come a
  • 00:11:36
    long way from the way I was raised back
  • 00:11:38
    in the old days when we just took that
  • 00:11:40
    for granted so that being said it's a
  • 00:11:42
    very important part of the process to
  • 00:11:44
    educate the American people because
  • 00:11:45
    we're going to put together bills and
  • 00:11:47
    legislation that we're going to depend
  • 00:11:48
    on the American people supporting and
  • 00:11:50
    backing us up so in terms of bills one
  • 00:11:52
    of the biggest things that I'm seeing
  • 00:11:53
    that we have a chance to do and it's all
  • 00:11:56
    about choice choice and and addressing
  • 00:11:58
    the learning learning loss is something
  • 00:12:01
    we should have as a top priority right
  • 00:12:03
    now in order to do that we need to make
  • 00:12:06
    sure that first of all the federal
  • 00:12:07
    government is staying within their Lane
  • 00:12:09
    and we have something called the
  • 00:12:11
    educational choice for children's act
  • 00:12:13
    which actually does this it's very
  • 00:12:14
    simple a scholarship or gr organization
  • 00:12:17
    has is there's no oversight by the
  • 00:12:18
    Department of Education the only Federal
  • 00:12:20
    Nexus is that it has to be a nonprofit
  • 00:12:23
    so IRS has to make sure that they are
  • 00:12:25
    nonprofit and it can be put into any
  • 00:12:27
    state across the country so not only is
  • 00:12:29
    there's no U federal handson or pushing
  • 00:12:33
    back but there's also no State what
  • 00:12:35
    happens with this uh uh scholarship
  • 00:12:37
    Grant organization is that individuals
  • 00:12:40
    and corporations can invest into that
  • 00:12:42
    they can donate and get tax credits so
  • 00:12:45
    just imagine having this this pot of
  • 00:12:47
    money where parents across the country
  • 00:12:49
    can ask request whether you want to go
  • 00:12:51
    to paral school private school uh where
  • 00:12:54
    they want to do homeschooling and and
  • 00:12:55
    have the the tools they need they can
  • 00:12:57
    actually ask for for for funding to take
  • 00:13:00
    care of their kids because the parents
  • 00:13:02
    know best what their kids are are best
  • 00:13:04
    best able to do so it gives them that
  • 00:13:06
    choice even the states that do not like
  • 00:13:09
    choice so it it to me is is a way to
  • 00:13:11
    give the American people what they need
  • 00:13:14
    uh the the federal government can stay
  • 00:13:16
    out of it and in charge of all the the
  • 00:13:18
    strings that normally attached and just
  • 00:13:20
    let we the people do our best to raise
  • 00:13:22
    our kids that's that's one of the things
  • 00:13:23
    we're working on right now and we're
  • 00:13:25
    we're we're looking at how can we make
  • 00:13:27
    sure we also show the best practices
  • 00:13:29
    across the country you have a federal
  • 00:13:30
    database that that's here in Utah we're
  • 00:13:33
    doing something well someone in in New
  • 00:13:35
    Hampshire could take a look at say this
  • 00:13:36
    might work for us too and we to see how
  • 00:13:38
    how best we can uh Implement with those
  • 00:13:41
    uh those
  • 00:13:42
    practices well that federal tax credit
  • 00:13:44
    proposal that you mentioned is a popular
  • 00:13:47
    idea among American voters there was a a
  • 00:13:49
    recent survey that found that support
  • 00:13:52
    for a federal tax credit that would
  • 00:13:54
    allow parents to send their children to
  • 00:13:56
    a school of their choice
  • 00:13:59
    uh had support of 62% of Democrats 77%
  • 00:14:04
    of Republicans so this is a bipartisan
  • 00:14:06
    support from the American people for
  • 00:14:08
    this idea and fortunately there's
  • 00:14:10
    Congressional support as well there were
  • 00:14:13
    over 150 members of Congress who signed
  • 00:14:16
    on to co-sponsor that educational choice
  • 00:14:18
    for children act that you mentioned in
  • 00:14:20
    this most recent Congress I think it's
  • 00:14:22
    over 30 Senators um that's unprecedented
  • 00:14:25
    to see that kind of level of of support
  • 00:14:28
    on the hill for a federal school choice
  • 00:14:31
    proposal we'll see what happens going
  • 00:14:34
    forward can I say one thing about about
  • 00:14:36
    this this is why the American people uh
  • 00:14:38
    have to be engaged have to be educated
  • 00:14:41
    because we can we can sadle to to to to
  • 00:14:44
    put our names on the line and but yet
  • 00:14:45
    get to the floor and not and then let
  • 00:14:47
    things go through we just passed the
  • 00:14:48
    ways of Means Committee what took a lot
  • 00:14:50
    to get through there matter of fact to
  • 00:14:52
    get through that they had to pull out
  • 00:14:53
    the fact that corporations can now
  • 00:14:55
    donate so we have to understand we're up
  • 00:14:57
    against still a big fight there are
  • 00:14:59
    people there's ideologist do not want
  • 00:15:01
    our kids to have choice there's States
  • 00:15:02
    like California that's okay and this is
  • 00:15:05
    a study came out in 2017 they have 75%
  • 00:15:08
    of the black boys cannot read and write
  • 00:15:09
    they're okay with that uh there's just
  • 00:15:11
    the way the way some some ideologies are
  • 00:15:14
    the fact is Bor and free can never be we
  • 00:15:16
    have to have an educated populace and
  • 00:15:19
    those who don't want us to be educated
  • 00:15:21
    uh uh will take us in a different
  • 00:15:23
    direction so we have to make sure that
  • 00:15:25
    that we are making sure American people
  • 00:15:27
    understand what we're doing u i think
  • 00:15:29
    that with again a senate a house and a
  • 00:15:32
    president Trump and American people
  • 00:15:33
    backing us up this could be one of the
  • 00:15:35
    most transitional transformative uh uh
  • 00:15:38
    piece of legislation we ever see in our
  • 00:15:39
    country well Congressman ens this does
  • 00:15:42
    have widespread popular support it does
  • 00:15:43
    have significant support among members
  • 00:15:46
    of Congress who's the biggest opposition
  • 00:15:48
    what's stopping it from happen the same
  • 00:15:51
    group the same groups that we saw that
  • 00:15:53
    did the worst uh to our American kids we
  • 00:15:55
    can went through covid as the the labor
  • 00:15:57
    alans is the is the the act the
  • 00:15:59
    activists who do not want us to believe
  • 00:16:01
    and and understand and know how great
  • 00:16:03
    our country is uh those who are against
  • 00:16:05
    the idea of Faith Family free market
  • 00:16:07
    education there's an ideology that has
  • 00:16:09
    truly uh been very very active within
  • 00:16:12
    our school system if you wonder why kids
  • 00:16:13
    are coming out with so much get with the
  • 00:16:16
    degrees that mean absolutely nothing and
  • 00:16:17
    ha our culture at the same time it's
  • 00:16:19
    that same ideology the same hard leftist
  • 00:16:22
    Marxist ideology that's been been
  • 00:16:24
    actually us for a while so we have these
  • 00:16:27
    com these uh honest conversations about
  • 00:16:29
    what we're up against and we now see
  • 00:16:31
    what it looks like we can now do
  • 00:16:33
    something about it and it doesn't matter
  • 00:16:35
    what side hour we all by the way if we
  • 00:16:36
    love our kids we want to make sure that
  • 00:16:38
    we're not at the bottom of the the the
  • 00:16:40
    ranking when it comes to our
  • 00:16:42
    International Reading Writing and and
  • 00:16:44
    thinking and arithmetic if we want to
  • 00:16:46
    have the very best of the best we can
  • 00:16:48
    have up an an agreement that the best
  • 00:16:50
    schools should be where every child has
  • 00:16:52
    a chance to go to if the schools are not
  • 00:16:54
    succeeding then they should do something
  • 00:16:56
    else if teachers are not good they do
  • 00:16:59
    something else if teachers are really
  • 00:17:00
    good we should have a way of of of of
  • 00:17:02
    incentivizing them so they would love
  • 00:17:04
    the stand of profession they can afford
  • 00:17:05
    stand of profession and our profession
  • 00:17:07
    is is once against respect it the way it
  • 00:17:09
    was when I was growing up all of the
  • 00:17:12
    things that you're saying are policies
  • 00:17:14
    ideas that are timately opposed by the
  • 00:17:16
    labor unions that represent teachers and
  • 00:17:18
    other other government workers so what
  • 00:17:20
    what can we do to limit their power and
  • 00:17:23
    to push back that's happening now see it
  • 00:17:25
    comes down to this our country a uh uh
  • 00:17:29
    republic democracy is based on the
  • 00:17:31
    thoughts the will The Passion of the
  • 00:17:33
    people really cut out to if we're
  • 00:17:35
    frustrated about what's happening it's
  • 00:17:37
    because we have not yet done the job we
  • 00:17:39
    need to do so what do we need to do
  • 00:17:40
    let's be engage let's I think I think Co
  • 00:17:43
    gave us an opportunity to see what our
  • 00:17:44
    kids are being taught and it do matter
  • 00:17:46
    in the past in the past this is what I
  • 00:17:48
    saw good people good Americans that
  • 00:17:51
    really felt bad for all the bad things
  • 00:17:53
    happening in Detroit in California in
  • 00:17:55
    Washington DC they felt bad about it
  • 00:17:57
    they had sympathy for it
  • 00:17:59
    but they also in in decent uh areas
  • 00:18:02
    where they thought they can do okay when
  • 00:18:04
    Co came you started see what our kids
  • 00:18:06
    being taught that the that parents are
  • 00:18:08
    being put on the sideline that sympathy
  • 00:18:10
    went to empathy once we have our country
  • 00:18:13
    back to being an empathetic country
  • 00:18:15
    where we don't have to deal with exactly
  • 00:18:16
    the issue but feel feel the pain of
  • 00:18:18
    those who do we will then start bringing
  • 00:18:20
    to Congress the right kind of
  • 00:18:22
    legislative body which is an American
  • 00:18:24
    first body and we will have the power to
  • 00:18:27
    put together legislation through that
  • 00:18:29
    will will take us on to to to
  • 00:18:31
    Generations to come I think that's we're
  • 00:18:33
    at that moment right now where we have
  • 00:18:34
    this again the opportunity to BR all
  • 00:18:36
    these passions these Visions together
  • 00:18:39
    the idea of of innovation we can put it
  • 00:18:42
    into place with kids moving forward
  • 00:18:44
    would have unbelievable opportunity
  • 00:18:45
    that's what we need to make sure we stay
  • 00:18:46
    focus on let's talk Beyond school choice
  • 00:18:49
    and some of these other things that
  • 00:18:50
    we've we've discussed what what are your
  • 00:18:52
    policy priorities for the next Congress
  • 00:18:54
    what else do you want to see happen
  • 00:18:55
    there there is obviously the priority of
  • 00:18:58
    of choice of making sure that we are
  • 00:19:00
    back and teaching and holding our our
  • 00:19:02
    our school systems basically holding our
  • 00:19:04
    College systems accountable we will also
  • 00:19:07
    with the database we're talking about
  • 00:19:09
    allow parents and School District to see
  • 00:19:11
    what's going on across the country so if
  • 00:19:13
    parents are not happy with how they're
  • 00:19:16
    ranked with the rest of the country uh
  • 00:19:18
    with ideas that that are working in
  • 00:19:20
    another country they can have something
  • 00:19:21
    to do in their particular areas the
  • 00:19:23
    other thing we need to do in terms of
  • 00:19:24
    how do how to make sure our kids when
  • 00:19:26
    they come through the process can move
  • 00:19:28
    right into to uh a career there
  • 00:19:30
    something that that I had a chance to
  • 00:19:32
    experienced a few years ago I said down
  • 00:19:34
    was Nick sain who's a coach for Alabama
  • 00:19:36
    one of the best talking about sports but
  • 00:19:38
    he made an analogy that to me highlights
  • 00:19:41
    what we can do also in Workforce he said
  • 00:19:43
    that we can identify a young man in
  • 00:19:45
    seventh grade by the time he gets to
  • 00:19:46
    11th grade we can offer him a
  • 00:19:48
    scholarship and how does that happen
  • 00:19:49
    well this is handshake this young man
  • 00:19:52
    knows exactly what Alabama offers them
  • 00:19:54
    whether it be the colors whether it be
  • 00:19:56
    uh the the past reputation the opp go to
  • 00:19:58
    the NFL maybe whatever it is he's
  • 00:20:01
    focused on getting that done Alabama has
  • 00:20:03
    recognized this young man is make sure
  • 00:20:05
    he has everything he know he needs to
  • 00:20:06
    know to stay focused to to to qualify to
  • 00:20:09
    be part of that process 11th grade they
  • 00:20:11
    come together and it's all worked out as
  • 00:20:13
    a win-win we need to do the same thing
  • 00:20:15
    in our Workforce process we didn't think
  • 00:20:17
    about our Workforce going back as as far
  • 00:20:19
    as kindergarten where kids are taught
  • 00:20:21
    how to treat each other how to share how
  • 00:20:24
    to talk to each other those little
  • 00:20:25
    things that end up being a skill set
  • 00:20:27
    later on and if we learn to do that
  • 00:20:30
    early we can find kids to know seventh
  • 00:20:32
    eighth grade grade with parents knowing
  • 00:20:34
    where they want to go they don't have to
  • 00:20:36
    spend four years in college when they
  • 00:20:37
    want to go out and become a a welder a
  • 00:20:39
    remarkable welder and that's what their
  • 00:20:41
    skill set is we need to make sure that
  • 00:20:43
    whatever the passion for our children
  • 00:20:45
    whatever they can succeed in and tie
  • 00:20:48
    them into the the the the opportunities
  • 00:20:50
    of that that career of that that
  • 00:20:52
    industry what is the income potential we
  • 00:20:55
    do that right and we'll have a much more
  • 00:20:57
    successful workforce out there there and
  • 00:20:58
    a very excited group of kids learning
  • 00:21:01
    what they have to learn to be successful
  • 00:21:03
    they go through the through the system I
  • 00:21:04
    appreciate your vision for what could be
  • 00:21:08
    and uh look forward to seeing seeing all
  • 00:21:10
    that unfold in the upcoming years you
  • 00:21:13
    did mention the importance of hearings
  • 00:21:14
    that this is a way of educating the
  • 00:21:16
    American people about what's really
  • 00:21:17
    going on in our education system what's
  • 00:21:19
    going on with the mechanics of
  • 00:21:20
    government at various levels a huge
  • 00:21:23
    abysmal failure of government was the
  • 00:21:26
    FAFSA roll out it's been described
  • 00:21:28
    everywhere I go when I visit colleges
  • 00:21:30
    with my high school age daughter as a
  • 00:21:32
    debacle and you held a very important
  • 00:21:34
    hearing exposing just what a botched
  • 00:21:36
    roll out that was I'd love for you to
  • 00:21:38
    talk about the impact of of that hearing
  • 00:21:41
    and any hearing ideas that you have for
  • 00:21:44
    going forward what what we're finding
  • 00:21:46
    out this is why uh I think we're such a
  • 00:21:49
    a an important part of our of our
  • 00:21:52
    country's history education is at the
  • 00:21:54
    core of what direction we go in we
  • 00:21:56
    either can control our own faith by
  • 00:21:58
    being able to think articulate ourselves
  • 00:22:01
    have a confidence to talk with other
  • 00:22:02
    people might not agree or we go the
  • 00:22:04
    other way in which we're so frustrated
  • 00:22:05
    we can't think somebody disagrees with
  • 00:22:07
    pick up Tick and hit them and that's
  • 00:22:08
    kind of what we're dealing with right
  • 00:22:10
    now this idea with FASA shows the
  • 00:22:13
    incompetence incompetency I would say
  • 00:22:15
    it's not I can't even say it's not on
  • 00:22:17
    purpose because uh what happened was was
  • 00:22:20
    totally unneeded we not only had a year
  • 00:22:23
    before this started the con was gave
  • 00:22:25
    extra time and money to make sure they
  • 00:22:27
    were ready for this moment moment when
  • 00:22:29
    the moment came what the bid
  • 00:22:31
    Administration did is they had a the
  • 00:22:32
    person who overa this had no idea has
  • 00:22:35
    never experienced anything with bper he
  • 00:22:36
    was a litigator he was there to focus on
  • 00:22:39
    loan forgiveness so that if that's where
  • 00:22:41
    your focus is the last thing to worry
  • 00:22:43
    about is what kids going to have to deal
  • 00:22:44
    with when they had to show up and
  • 00:22:46
    they're trying to get an idea of what
  • 00:22:47
    can they afford to get to and what who
  • 00:22:49
    was hurt the most first generation kids
  • 00:22:52
    going to college who've been working all
  • 00:22:53
    their lives to see if maybe I can get
  • 00:22:55
    there kids who who say I'm going to
  • 00:22:57
    break the cycle of poty and go out and
  • 00:22:59
    get a career now that can help me move
  • 00:23:00
    forward like we've always done in the
  • 00:23:02
    past the ones that got hurt worse the
  • 00:23:04
    ones who could not afford to make it to
  • 00:23:06
    navigate this process did not have the
  • 00:23:09
    kind of mothers you that you are where
  • 00:23:10
    person that sit there work through this
  • 00:23:12
    process with their child uh and it's sad
  • 00:23:15
    to see that when you have an a
  • 00:23:18
    government agency that hurts the most
  • 00:23:20
    vulnerable that they are in control of
  • 00:23:22
    this process we need to change that so
  • 00:23:25
    everything we're dealing right now this
  • 00:23:26
    why this election period is so important
  • 00:23:28
    it's so important we have a chance to
  • 00:23:30
    start looking how can we bring
  • 00:23:31
    Innovation to to the to the government
  • 00:23:34
    how can we make sure that bureaucrats
  • 00:23:35
    will do nothing but sit around and put
  • 00:23:37
    rules together that makes no sense that
  • 00:23:39
    we have no way of of pushing back with
  • 00:23:41
    because they have now taken over the
  • 00:23:42
    idea of legislating how do we get them
  • 00:23:44
    out we need to bring to federal
  • 00:23:46
    government the same thing we bring to
  • 00:23:48
    every single industry accountability
  • 00:23:50
    transparency and results we need to have
  • 00:23:53
    results if they can't give us the
  • 00:23:55
    results then they need to do something
  • 00:23:56
    else but that's where we are now I would
  • 00:23:59
    say again why I'm so excited about this
  • 00:24:01
    moment this has been my passion for 40
  • 00:24:03
    years when I left NFL it was to find a
  • 00:24:05
    way to build a business to help our
  • 00:24:07
    atrisk kids kids that I saw in my
  • 00:24:09
    community that we were losing here we
  • 00:24:11
    are 40 years later and we having the
  • 00:24:13
    conversation that this conversations
  • 00:24:14
    happening every place across the country
  • 00:24:17
    every place I go over this last few
  • 00:24:18
    months we're talking about education
  • 00:24:21
    we're talking about our kids future
  • 00:24:23
    what's happening and in government right
  • 00:24:24
    now that's that's putting regulations
  • 00:24:26
    that makes no sense to Industries to
  • 00:24:28
    survive because we are here we have this
  • 00:24:31
    the remarkable moment to reset the
  • 00:24:34
    opportunities for our kids future we can
  • 00:24:36
    do things right now that be
  • 00:24:37
    intergenerational change if we if we
  • 00:24:39
    stay focused if everybody make sure that
  • 00:24:41
    you've taking part in this process now
  • 00:24:44
    it's not the time to sit on the sideline
  • 00:24:46
    and wait for somebody else to take care
  • 00:24:48
    of this major issue like we've done for
  • 00:24:49
    the last few decades we need to be
  • 00:24:51
    engaged if you care about your child you
  • 00:24:54
    care about the kids around the country
  • 00:24:56
    that will impact your child now Now's
  • 00:24:58
    the Time to Say education has to be a it
  • 00:25:00
    has to be a priority and we need to make
  • 00:25:02
    sure the best people in there that gives
  • 00:25:04
    the best vision for what that can look
  • 00:25:06
    like we have so much Ingenuity so much
  • 00:25:09
    Innovative skills so much out-of-box
  • 00:25:11
    thinking because we're a a country is
  • 00:25:13
    built on a free market let's bring that
  • 00:25:16
    to education and the things we'll be
  • 00:25:18
    doing the next few years will be
  • 00:25:20
    remarkable Congressman Owens thank you
  • 00:25:22
    so much for your enthusiastic and stead
  • 00:25:24
    steadfast support for Education Freedom
  • 00:25:27
    thank you for caring so so much about
  • 00:25:29
    the nation's students and families and
  • 00:25:31
    Educators and thank you for joining
  • 00:25:33
    freedom to learn well joh thank you so
  • 00:25:35
    much it this is a team effort and every
  • 00:25:37
    one of us are playing for so thank thank
  • 00:25:39
    you for everything you guys are doing
  • 00:25:40
    too together we'll pull this together to
  • 00:25:41
    give our kids a remarkable future for
  • 00:25:43
    sure thanks so
  • 00:25:46
    much okay Dell we're talking through
  • 00:25:49
    some school choice myths education
  • 00:25:51
    Freedom myths and one that we're hearing
  • 00:25:53
    a lot now that we have so many school
  • 00:25:55
    choice programs the opposition or the
  • 00:25:58
    people who aren't comfortable with the
  • 00:26:00
    idea of options and opportunities and
  • 00:26:02
    freedom tend to claim that these
  • 00:26:05
    programs at the state level provide
  • 00:26:08
    education freedom to families that can
  • 00:26:10
    already afford private school and and
  • 00:26:12
    that these families don't need state
  • 00:26:15
    school choice programs what are your
  • 00:26:17
    thoughts on that I think the the first
  • 00:26:19
    thing is that uh none of these people
  • 00:26:22
    are actually against options and
  • 00:26:24
    opportunity the question is at what
  • 00:26:26
    price point they think you should be
  • 00:26:27
    allowed to have them and I wish they
  • 00:26:30
    would just come out and be like yeah I
  • 00:26:31
    think rich people should be able to do
  • 00:26:33
    whatever whatever they want to do and if
  • 00:26:35
    you're not rich you should go to the the
  • 00:26:38
    school we assign you to and be happy
  • 00:26:40
    about it so that's kind of like the the
  • 00:26:42
    first thing the second thing I would
  • 00:26:44
    just say is like what nobody ever says
  • 00:26:47
    out loud is that the system that really
  • 00:26:51
    subsidizes the rich is the public system
  • 00:26:54
    and the way that they do it I mean it's
  • 00:26:57
    like is this genius right you you say
  • 00:27:00
    listen I'm going to give you this
  • 00:27:02
    exclusive school zone I'm going to
  • 00:27:06
    police it literally police it so like if
  • 00:27:09
    anybody tries to go go to the school
  • 00:27:12
    inside the zone that doesn't live inside
  • 00:27:14
    the Zone we're going to arrest them like
  • 00:27:16
    literally arrest them we might either
  • 00:27:18
    make them pay to go there or we might
  • 00:27:22
    prosecute them to get the money back for
  • 00:27:24
    going to the school that is in the zone
  • 00:27:28
    and most
  • 00:27:29
    importantly because we'll we'll we'll
  • 00:27:32
    give you an exclusive sort of franchise
  • 00:27:34
    to the school because your house is in
  • 00:27:36
    the zone your housing value will
  • 00:27:40
    appreciate in a way that no other asset
  • 00:27:42
    in America does so so I just want to
  • 00:27:46
    throw all that out there to be like the
  • 00:27:47
    public system is the system that
  • 00:27:50
    ingratiates the rich the most and that
  • 00:27:53
    is a uh political calculus I mean it's
  • 00:27:56
    genius and it is why so many people even
  • 00:28:00
    if they choose private school are like
  • 00:28:02
    no no no no no I'm not for letting
  • 00:28:05
    anybody unbundle the house and the
  • 00:28:07
    school what the public schools have
  • 00:28:10
    right is what most political coalitions
  • 00:28:12
    have right is that their Coalition is
  • 00:28:14
    diverse and it includes rich people uh
  • 00:28:19
    and I have not spent my career working
  • 00:28:22
    on trying to have rich people in the
  • 00:28:24
    Coalition of improving options for
  • 00:28:26
    low-income kids but I really want them
  • 00:28:29
    in it now because when I look at a place
  • 00:28:32
    like Illinois where they had a program
  • 00:28:34
    and they don't have it anymore a program
  • 00:28:37
    that that was for lower income middle
  • 00:28:39
    inome pay right when I look at Charter
  • 00:28:43
    schs in uh in a place like Massachusetts
  • 00:28:46
    which have added 23 seats over the last
  • 00:28:49
    five years 23 right these have been
  • 00:28:53
    widely studied they're outrageously good
  • 00:28:55
    for low-income kids but uh you know Mal
  • 00:28:58
    Holio Newton and all these other places
  • 00:29:01
    are like nah don't more Char schools you
  • 00:29:03
    know when I see those things those are
  • 00:29:05
    the political byproducts of not having
  • 00:29:08
    wealthier people in the Coalition for
  • 00:29:11
    choice for low-income faes so I you know
  • 00:29:13
    let's have a real conversation I mean
  • 00:29:15
    let's do what the public schools did you
  • 00:29:17
    know and and hopefully the programs are
  • 00:29:20
    protected into the future and there's
  • 00:29:21
    more opportunity for all kids
  • 00:29:25
    [Music]
  • 00:29:28
    freedom to learn is a production of the
  • 00:29:30
    defens of Freedom Institute you can
  • 00:29:31
    learn more about DFI at DFI policy.org
  • 00:29:34
    if you have feedback or suggestions for
  • 00:29:36
    future podcasts please reach out to us
  • 00:29:39
    at podcast DFI policy.org
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