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Most Americans rightly believe that a strong religious upbringing may be the most important means of influencing the moral development of a child. For the millions of parents who continue to support school vouchers, the religious school is seen as a partner in training the child in right and wrong. That nearly nine out of ten private school students attend religious schools may reflect a parental judgment that raising good people is more important than raising test scores.

If more communities adopt the Cleveland model, and more parents exercise the choice of religious education for their children, who knows? We might actually raise a generation that prefers affliction over evil.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also appearing on today's site:

A Two-for-One NovelStephen Carter mixes wry social observations and a densely plotted thriller.

The Freedom Forum offers good background on the Ohio voucher case with a timeline. Read the Supreme Court ruling or watch it at Cleveland's WKYC.

Reaction statements online included ones from Family Research Council, American Center for Law and Justice, and the National Education Association.

For media coverage, see Yahoo full coverage.

More Christianity Today articles on school reforms are available in our education area. Previous articles on school vouchers include:

Breaking Up a MonopolyThe Supreme Court has put parents back in charge of their children's education. (July 29, 2002)

Supreme Court Okays School VouchersCleveland's voucher plan is constitutional, Supreme Court says in 5-4 decision. (June 27, 2002)

Conservatives Vow to Revive VouchersProposal left out of education reform bills. (July 19, 2001)

Reading, Writing, and ReformVouchers dropped, but testing, tax credits remain in Bush education plan. (June 10, 2001)

Vouching for ParentsVouchers are not an attack on public schools but a vote of trust in families. (April 2, 2001)

Weblog: Appeals Court Says Vouchers Violate Church-State Separation (Dec. 13, 2000)

Religious Right Loses PowerA few victories, but more losses for conservatives. (Dec. 18, 2000)

School Choice Measures in Tight RacesRecent surveys show much opposition to voucher initiatives in California and Michigan. (Sept. 27, 2000)

Florida School Voucher Plan Struck Down by State JudgeChurch-state issues not addressed in ruling. (March 24, 2000)

Judge Freezes Voucher Enrollments(Oct. 4, 1999)

Editorial: Religious Schools Make the GradeGive Wisconsin an 'A' for saying no to secularist nonsense. (Aug. 10, 1999)

Voucher Plan Draws Mixed Reviews (July 12, 1999)

Voucher Victory | School-choice advocates win in Wisconsin, but can the movement gain momentum? (Sept. 7, 1998)

Judge Stalls Voucher Expansion (March 3, 1997)

Voucher Opponents Vow to Gut Cleveland Program (Oct. 28, 1996)

Recent Christianity Today columns by Stephen L. Carter include:

Remedial HistoryThe educational establishment seems confused about our spiritual heritage. (July 10, 2002)

Uncle Sam Is Not Your DadThe separation of church and state protects families too. (March 22, 2002)

A Quiet CompromiseWhy a moment of silence is better than school prayer. (Feb. 25, 2002)

Leaving 'Normal' BehindLife before September 11 seemed more secure, but do we really want it back? (Dec. 4, 2001)

Rudeness Has a First NameInstant informality actually sabotages true friendship. (Nov. 2, 2001)

Why Rules RuleDebates on the Ten Commandments expose our culture's ultimate rift. (Sept. 6, 2001)

We Interrupt This ChildhoodParents who raise their children to do right face a barrage of resistance. (July 11, 2001)

And the Word Turned SecularChristians should count the cost of the state's affirmation. (May 29, 2001)

Vouching for ParentsVouchers are not an attack on public schools but a vote of trust in families. (Apr. 2, 2001)

The Courage to LoseIn elections, and in life, there is something more important than winning. (Feb. 6, 2001)

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November 18 2002, Vol. 46, No. 12