Reece Gardner: We need freedom of choice in education
If there was any single issue that determined the outcome of the recent elections in this country-Local, State, and National -it would probably be Education. For example, look at what happened in Virginia, a Blue State that turned out to be rather Red, electing a Conservative Governor and a Conservative Lt. Governor (whom I will highlight in a moment) and giving the GOP a significant gain in the Legislature. There had been recent revelations about the so-called Critical Race Theory (CRT), and "Transgender" males raping young girls in school bathrooms, with a school board that seemed to be covering it up.
This, plus the video coverage of the harassment, physically and verbally, of some parents who objected to the school's leftward turn and its effort to implement the CRT formula, which many parents and others see as very divisive. These happenings have raised the Awareness level of people in our country and will probably motivate parents to get more involved with what has been happening in many of our schools, and that will be good for all of us. Now, having said that, I want to pay tribute to the many dedicated, talented school teachers here and throughout the nation who oftentimes go far beyond the call of duty in seeking to provide the best education possible for our young people.
They do indeed deserve our appreciation and support. But it does seem evident that the quality of public education in this state and nation is being undermined by the influence of such organizations as the National Education Association (NEA). Just look at the frenzy in some public education circles when the North Carolina Legislature enacted legislation a few years ago offering private school scholarships to a small percentage of students with below-average household incomes or learning disabilities.
In recent years this effort has grown, leading many to believe that we should enact a voucher program that would give parents throughout the state a choice in how and where their children are educated. This could lead to freedom of choice in education, putting education in the market place and requiring educational outlets to compete with each other to attract students to their facilities. Schools would have to be competitive, and most of us will probably agree that competition tends to bring out the best in all of us.
And now a few words about the newly-elected Lt. Governor of Virginia, Winsome Sears. She was born in Jamaica and she immigrated to the United States at the age of 6. She grew up in the Bronx, served as an electrician in the Marines, served in The Virginia House of Delegates, previously led a prison ministry, and was Director of a Women's Homeless Shelter for the Salvation Army, and now she has become the first Black woman to be elected statewide in Virginia. She is, in her own words, "LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM."
Now to close on a humorous note: An elderly lady was caught shoplifting. In Court the next day she and her husband stood before the judge, and the judge asked, "Why did you shoplift?", and she said, "I was hungry." The judge asked her what she took, and she replied, "A can of peaches." The judge paused and then asked, "How many peaches were in the can?" "Six." said the lady. "Then you shall serve six days in jail," said the judge, and then asked, "Do you have anything to add?" Her husband raised his hand and said, "Your Honor, she also stole a can of beans!" HAVE A GREAT DAY!
