The following document was previously available on the Michigan Family Forum web site:

Charting the Right Path!

When it comes to public education, Michigan's National Heritage Academies is charting the right course. Hi, I'm Mike Harris with Michigan Family Forum. And this is Michigan on the Move.

Michigan parents who want the best education for their kids, but don't want or can't afford a private Christian school, now have another choice in Michigan -- charter schools. And J.C. Huizenga of Grand Rapids is working hard to see that the choice is a clear one. Huizenga, the founder of Excel Academy in Grand Rapids, and the entrepreneur behind the National Heritage Academies, has designed his charter schools to meet the main concerns of parents-high academic standards, a safe, caring environment, and a moral focus.

Charter school opponents, many from the teacher's union, attack the charter school concept because of its moral focus, alleging that it blurs the line between church and state. Not so, says Mr. Huizenga, and counters with the notion that education is supposed to be a search for the truth, and if all truth is only relative-as some public schools teach-what are they searching for?

Other public school activists attack charter schools for making money off government funds and from helping kids. But, as Huizenga points out, every organization that contracts with government-highway builders, product vendors-does so for a profit motive. And as far as profiting from helping kids, Huizenga notes that baby food companies, and even drug companies that make vaccines that save kids' lives, do so for a profit.

And Huizenga is quick to point out that charter schools introduce perhaps the most needed element of all to a monolithic education system-competition. Indeed, every critic of the current American public school system agrees that a lack of real competition actually hurts rather than helps public schools.

So, as long as they're run right, maybe charter schools can teach everyone in Michigan a thing or two. I'm Mike Harris with Michigan Family Forum.