Heartfelt thanks is in order to those at the Institute for Justice who worked so diligently to bring the Cleveland school voucher case to the Supreme Court and then to win it.

The Supreme Court's decision in favor of school vouchers was a good first step in breaking the public education establishment's stranglehold on the minds of students. Indeed, adding parental choice and private competition are the best ways to improve learning, and to either overhaul public education's factories of ignorance, or close them.

Clearly, there is much more to be done against heavy opposition. First and foremost is to disarm the powerful but dishonest political forces of the National Education Association and teachers' unions by ignoring the scare-mongers and media manipulators, and holding elected officials to account.

Outgoing NEA President Bob Chase made the NEA's intentions perfectly clear by vowing to fight all school voucher proponents and ballot measures. His words were met with applause when he declared, "We will defeat you," at the NEA's July 2, 2002 Annual Meeting. During the tearful conclusion of his speech, Chase urged NEA representatives to "make a difference" like he did during his 6 years in office.

Alas, the only difference Bob Chase, the NEA and teacher unions have made, is unconscionably holding on to their own selfish interests by holding back the education of students.

Now it's time for parents to make a difference. It's time for parents to reclaim their childrens' future by placing school voucher initiatives on the ballot in every state. And now, more than ever, it's time for voters to pass those measures to ensure the future of America.

Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
The Direct Democracy Center