Not Giving Georgia Voters Credit

It's amazing the reaction we're seeing from those who so strongly opposed Amendment One.  Many did so because they saw their monopoly hold on the arena of education in danger.  But that number is not so big.  The bigger group is the one who is barraged with the panic and scare tactics from the first group.  The "Educrats" have been spreading so much fear and vitriol that they can hardly slow down now that they've been told by the majority of voters to shush. 

So, we're hearing, "Just you wait and see!  We're going to have to let people go and have more furlough days!  We're going to lose sports!  We're going to lose band and chorus!  And it's all because of charter schools!"  Parents -- good people who are so close to the shouting that they truly cannot see the forest for the trees -- are ducking and suspiciously eyeing the sky expecting it to come crashing down on their heads.

The other day, a friend and fellow charter school mother was in the grocery store with her son.  He saw one of his old friends from his previous school and excitedly greeted him.  The other child backed up and told him that his teacher had told her class that CCA was making HIS school lose their sports programs.  Then he proceeded to push my friend's son and yell at him!  My friend was shocked and jumped in to stop it.  The other child's mother stepped in and admonished her child for using his hands but commended him saying, "I AM PROUD OF YOU FOR STICKING UP FOR YOUR SCHOOL!"

What?!  I'm not even going to "go there" regarding the way that mother chooses to parent -- but I AM going to go there regarding what put this woman in the mindset that she is/was in.

These parents who, of course, love their children want the best for them and are feeling like the few are taking from the many -- the many who don't have anything to spare -- in order to fund their own private party.  But NOTHING could be farther from the truth!  This is about those who have had control doing a less-than-stellar job delivering the service they are paid (some quite handsomely) to do.  They see their control in danger and they are scaring the teachers, parents, and students they are able to influence.  I encourage you all to read a paper written by Christine P Ries, an economics professor at Georgia Tech. 

Now that the election is over, they are suggesting that Georgia's voters are easily mislead and cannot think for themselves -- that, somehow "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" is deceptive wording.  Wow.  They must think we are pretty stupid!  This is about fixing a largely broken system.  Yes, Cherokee County schools are doing well -- but we are the exception in our state.  Georgia's kids deserve better!

For those of you still hearing that this Amendment's passing is going to destroy education or your kid's school or starve teachers or whatever -- just hold on and see.  We ALL want nothing but the best for our children, for our neighbors, for our teachers, for our state!