MILWAUKEE – U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was in Milwaukee this week to praise the concept of school choice and local control of education, and to tell his audience that “Nobody in Washington knows a damn thing about education.”

Appearing at St. Anthony High School, which participates in the Milwaukee private school voucher program, Paul discussed how power needs to be given back to parents, teachers and local school boards.

“Education is the great equalizer,” Paul told the assembled parents, students and school leaders. “We need to have an education that works for everyone.

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“We’ve thrown money after education, but we haven’t tried innovation. … We’re talking about something fundamentally American and that’s choice.”

After the event, Paul told the media that good teachers should not be threatened by school choice.

“We have to make sure they understand we aren’t trying to destroy them as teachers. In fact, my point is that I think choice and innovation, less ridged control from Washington allows for more empowerment of teachers,” Paul said in a video published by RebelPundit.

Local school choice supporters were happy to have Paul, a potential Republican presidential candidate, in town to check out their unique school voucher program, which provides tuition for lower income children to attend private schools.

“High profile visitors to Milwaukee for school choice highlight two key areas: that Milwaukee is the birthplace of parent-empowering vouchers and that nationally, school choice is gaining momentum,” Jim Bender, president of School Choice Wisconsin, tells EAGnews.

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“Sen. Paul focused that he was in Milwaukee to learn how the program works here. He clearly believes that education decisions should be made at the local level and parents need to play key roles.

“St. Anthony’s is more than just a school – they are a key part of the community. The parents, students and public that attended the event were enthusiastically telling Sen. Paul about how their lives were impacted by the school choice program in Wisconsin,” Bender says.