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CNN Live Today

Supreme Court Looks at School Vouchers

Aired June 27, 2002 - 10:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We are expecting this morning some big decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court today. Justices there are looking at two other school-related issues. One is random drug testing; the other, the constitutionality of school vouchers.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken filed this report just moments ago on the volatile issue of vouchers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is one of the most emotional legal questions of our times, and well it should be. At issue, the quality of education for millions of our children, or, regrettably, the lack of quality in the public school systems, particularly urban public school systems throughout the United States.

But are vouchers the answer? Is government funding to send children to private schools, when most of the money ends up in religious schools, constitutional?

Cleveland, Ohio, provides such vouchers for students from substandard public schools. But the parent of one student, Doris Simmons-Harris, sued the board of education, charging that vouchers that are widely used to help pay for parochial schools violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This going to be a lesson on the first commandment.

FRANKEN: Federal lower courts have ruled at both levels that the constitutional commandment prohibits funding for religious education, and that vouchers do just that.

HOLLYN HOLLMAN, BAPTIST JOINT CMTE.: The question is whether the state can subsidize religious indoctrination in parochial schools.

FRANKEN: But supporters of vouchers have argued for years that the real issue is other fundamental values in the United States.

SISTER KAREN, ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL: I think it's about children, I think it's about education, and I think it's about parent choice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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