“perhaps the No. 1 civil rights issue of our day, education.”

The legislative effort to provide parents with education choices continues. 

Sizzling oratory and stubborn statistics clashed as opponents of a tax-funded voucher bill for private schools squared off against advocates of the opportunity scholarship grants Tuesday morning in the House Education Committee.

House Bill 944 has engendered bipartisan support from black and white lawmakers from rural and urban districts with markedly different political philosophies. It drew a large audience on Tuesday, but will not be voted on for another week.

“Talents are universal, but opportunities are not,” said state Rep. Ed Hanes, D-Forsyth, a recent convert to the voucher system.

“As I thought about where we stand today I came to a simple conclusion, and that is all of our students in public schools do not have equal opportunity at a sound and basic education,” Hanes said. “I firmly believe that it is perhaps the No. 1 civil rights issue of our day, education.”