You are missing a very big element of parental freedom, simply that if 50% of the student population had to rely on their parents for their education, or for supplementing or managing their education, they would be consigned to a terrible fate... especially in the inner cities.
You are right, absolutely, Sanctimonium has all the words, all the neat phrases, and you said it exactly, “Without reading a word of it...”
Newt supplies solutions, thought-out, developed, evolved solutions, culminating years of study and and work.
Santorum has also taken to quoting, sometimes verbatim, positions which Newt has espoused for years... as his own... he is not a thinker... America needs a thinker, and a fighter...
RIck says the following about local education:
Reforms at the local level should be focused on expanding consumer choice in public, private, and personalized education, attracting the best teachers to be competitive as a nation, and rewarding excellence, innovation, and personalizing to the needs of individual students rather than governments or unions. Local schools and states should expand online learning options and lift any caps on charter schools as well. There are many inspiring examples of effective teachers, schools, and learning around our nation which parents are seeking out to support them in their role. Rick Santorum believes that we need more.Yes, it isn't a plan. It's principles that he would hope local schools would use to improve.
Gingrich has plans. Plans for how, as President, he would make local schools better.
But why is the President putting together plans to make local schools better? It's not the fed's job. That's a job for the localities.