Vote No on GA School Takeover

We have a ballot vote in November to authorize the Governor to take over “failing schools”.  Opposition to this includes groups from all sides of the political spectrum.  Conservative groups and Liberal groups oppose this takeover for different reasons.  The Conservative groups do not like “unelected governance”, led the defeat of the T-SPLOST in 2012 and continue to lobby to repeal HB 277 and HB 1213 that created “Regional Commissions”.  Liberal groups are defending the public school system as it currently exists.  

Voters are divided on this ballot issue.  The voters who are not concerned about “unelected governance” may think its ok for the governor to take over failing schools.  Those voters who have developed a well-earned distrust of government solutions may well vote No. 

I prefer the current system of county public schools, but I think they are too expensive, dysfunctional and ineffective because of federal government interference and enabling state laws.  I have no tolerance for propaganda and revisionist history required by federal grants.  It costs more to accept this $2 billion a year in Federal “aid” than it “costs” to accept it.   We should refuse to take printed, borrowed federal money.  Our federal spending is unsustainable. 

What Students Need

Public schools do well when their students work to take responsibility for their own education.  Students really are responsible to attain the knowledge necessary to become self-supporting and function as adults.  Parents, teachers and tutors are responsible for assisting students to become prepared and discover their own motivated abilities. 

Successful adults love what they do and students need to choose the type of job they will do well and enjoy doing.  Students need to begin working as soon as possible to discover their own talents and interests. 

Kids who grew up on the family farm were required to do farm chores and encouraged to do well in school.  Some became engineers because they were good at and enjoyed fixing farm equipment.  City kids who got jobs in retail and food service as early as age 14 learned what was required to work and earn their own money.  They matured fast, but those who didn’t work, didn’t mature. 

Kids who are able to learn to play a musical instrument, play on a sports team and take gymnastics are allowed to excel.  These extra-curricular activities are important.  Kids who are exposed to museums, concerts and reading become curious and motivated to learn more.

The best education is self-education.  It’s important to get kids to engage in self-education as soon as possible. 

Students who do not excel in school need to work until their curiosity catches up with their chronological age.  They will not learn until they want to.  They should not be in the same classes with students who perform well.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader