Governor’s race 2010: Austin Scott on education
Candidates for Georgia governor share their views on education
All the candidates for governor are being invited to share their education views with Get Schooled readers. As each piece comes in and is published here, it will be added to a category called Governor 2010. I urge you to read all the pieces.
Here is what GOP candidate Austin Scott submitted:
By Austin Scott
In my vision of public education in Georgia, graduated means educated and educated means ready to go to work. Quality education for our children creates a quality workforce, and in turn, a vibrant economy.
I am passionate about improving our education system in this state. You see, my mother is a teacher, and so is my sister. My son Wells is a student in Tift County Public Schools. I am in Georgia’s public schools more than most or maybe all other candidates in the race to be Georgia’s next Governor. It is personal for me. It should be for you too, because the economic and professional opportunities available to our children and our state as a whole depend on quality education being equally available to all.
Unfortunately, most conversations about education today seem to focus on venture capital, vouchers, and “pay-for-performance”. In contrast to some of the other GOP candidates for governor, I do not support placing teacher retirement funds in the hands of venture capital firms. More importantly, I do not know a single educator who is in favor of their money being invested in venture capital. I do not believe in taking unnecessary risk with teacher funds—especially after considering some of the losses that have been sustained by similar funds during this economic downturn. Vouchers and “pay-for-performance” are of equal concern to me, as I do not think either one addresses the fundamental problems in our education system.
The concerns we all have as parents, educators, and administrators are not uniform throughout the state. Needs differ from system to
Republican candidate for governor Austin Scott
system. Some areas have better schools than other areas. Often these distinctions can be drawn on economic lines, but not always. Our best choice for improving performance statewide is to look at defining the characteristics that separate “outperforming” schools from “underperforming” ones with similar demographics, and apply those methods across systems.
As Dr. Douglas Reeves of the Center for Performance Assessment shows in his article High Performance in High Poverty Schools: 90-90-90 and Beyond, demographic characteristics do not affect academic performance. “90-90-90 Schools” are those where 90% or more of the students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, 90% of more of the students are members of ethnic minority groups, and 90% or more of the students meet the district or state academic standards in reading or another area. What are they doing differently? He identifies five characteristics common to these schools: a “laser-like” focus on academic achievement, clear curriculum choices, frequent assessment of student progress with multiple opportunities for improvement, an emphasis on nonfiction writing, and collaborative scoring of student work.
My proposal, which I call ‘Bridges Beyond’, will pair the leadership of the “90-90-90 Schools” in Georgia with demographically similar underperforming schools and reward both schools for the improvements. I believe that allowing educators to share best practices beyond system borders will address some of the underperformance we’ve experienced up to now.
Also, I am currently proposing legislation that will allow school systems to use SPLOST funds for general operations. Existing Georgia law restricts the use of education SPLOST funds to use for capital projects alone. I do not believe that it makes sense in 2010 to force school systems to continue to build capital projects they may not need when that money could be used to enhance the quality of education delivered within our existing buildings.
Like former governor Zell Miller, I will appoint members of both parties to serve on the state Board of Education. Those leaders will have to be committed to working together in a nonpartisan manner with a focus on doing simply what’s best for Georgia’s children. They will have to be committed to continual improvement even though our resources will be more limited than in the recent past. I believe it is time to leave partisanship outside the boardroom.
The quality of education in our state is directly tied to the attitude of the leadership in the system, the classroom, and at the capitol.
Imagine what we can accomplish with a governor who represents a new generation of ideas and a new attitude towards education. As an elected official, and more importantly as the son of a teacher, and the brother of a teacher, whose own son attends public schools, I listen to those with experience. In a Scott administration, education is personal—very personal.
If you elect me your governor, you will have someone ready to go to work to improve education in Georgia with a clear vision and concrete programs to get us on the path to excellence , where “graduated means educated and educated means ready to go to work.” I know I can do this, with your support.
These are some of my ideas. Please visit ScottForGA.com to share yours.
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41 comments Add your comment
ScienceTeacher671
February 12th, 2010
6:17 pm
Just wondering…are any of those 90-90-90 schools also on the Cheaters List?
Ed Johnson
February 12th, 2010
6:33 pm
Austin Scott opens with:
“In my vision of public education in Georgia, graduated means educated and educated means ready to go to work. Quality education for our children creates a quality workforce, and in turn, a vibrant economy.”
We just cannot keep thinking this way about our public education systems and, more importantly, about our children. Education must cease being thought of as a workforce production mill or factory. We simply have to somehow get this explicit purpose-of-education-is-to- produce-a-workforce mentality out of our thinking. Can we not see the connection with cheating on tests, the current crisis, and learn the lesson? People are not widgets; they are human beings and, for better or worse, behave as human beings. Enough, already.
GA Insider
February 12th, 2010
6:46 pm
Austin Scott is an arrogant, pretty boy with a hot temper who doesn’t stand a chance of winning the gubernatorial election. He has already spewed off at the mouth in this campaign with a bunch of nonsense and misinformation, and he is so arrogant that he won’t listen to reason. He has never let facts get in the way of making a biased and political decision.
GA Outsider
February 12th, 2010
6:50 pm
Insider, why, pray tell, does Mr Scott ask for the comments of others in his closing thoughts?
And–a “pretty boy with a hot temper”? Sounds like some repressed feelings at work.
ScienceTeacher671
February 12th, 2010
6:51 pm
Apparently the General Assembly is thinking of passing a law to raise the dropout age to 17. It seems to me that if they would put a decent vocational program in, rather than expecting everyone to get ready for college, they might not have to worry about passing a law to keep students captive for another year…
ScienceTeacher671
February 12th, 2010
6:56 pm
Personally, I like what Mr. Scott had to say (I just get a bit distracted by “shiny things”, like the mention of the 90-90-90 schools and the idea of getting everyone ready for the workplace). At least his ideas seem a bit more original than some of those we’ve heard, and unlike some GOP candidates, he doesn’t seem obsessed with dismantling public education.
I especially like the part about “quality education being equally available to all”, which seems to echo the language of our state constitution in a manner not heard from some of the other candidates.
Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2010
6:58 pm
Mr. Scott, while I can appreciate what comes across as sincerity and a certain understanding of public education because of your mother and sister and child, you too miss the mark when it comes to improving schools (especially those in economically impoverished areas) when you don’t mention one thing about student discipline. At MACE, we often say, “Order is the first law of the universe.” We also have another important mantra that we often state: “You cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions.” Discipline comes before Achievement. Our armed forces understand this. This is not rocket science. Mr. Scott, I wish you well, but I first wish that you would come to grips with these simple truths. If you “eat” them, cogitate on them, and let them color your understanding of why schools succeed or fail, then there is hope for you. If you do an unannounced visit to a middle school in Tift County and then do a couple of unannounced visits in a couple of middle schools in Atlanta and DeKalb, you will readily see that the major difference is a lack of discipline in the latter schools. (Perhaps you can be an “anonymous” substitue teacher at all three of these schools.) I don’t give a rat’s behind what Dr. Douglas Reeves says. For all I know, there was massive systematic cheating at his “successful” schools also. Remember Rod Paige was made U. S. Secretary of Education by George W. Bush because of the “miracles” that he performed in the Houston City Schools. Later, these “miracles” were disgracefully debunked and exposed in the national media as what? Systematic Cheating. Follow your heart, Mr. Scott. Don’t try to be politically correct. If you follow your heart, I believe that you will strike a harmonious chord with teachers throughout Georgia. In your heart, you know that I am right. You grew up in a family of educators. (c) MACE, February 12, 2010.
Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2010
7:00 pm
So you are running for Governor, Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott, while I can appreciate what comes across as sincerity and a certain understanding of public education because of your mother and sister and child, you too miss the mark when it comes to improving schools (especially those in economically impoverished areas) when you don’t mention one thing about student discipline. At MACE, we often say, “Order is the first law of the universe.” We also have another important mantra that we often state: “You cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions.” Discipline comes before Achievement. Our armed forces understand this. This is not rocket science. Mr. Scott, I wish you well, but I first wish that you would come to grips with these simple truths. If you “eat” them, cogitate on them, and let them color your understanding of why schools succeed or fail, then there is hope for you. If you do an unannounced visit to a middle school in Tift County and then do a couple of unannounced visits in a couple of middle schools in Atlanta and DeKalb, you will readily see that the major difference is a lack of discipline in the latter schools. (Perhaps you can be an “anonymous” substitute teacher at all three of these schools.) I don’t give a rat’s behind what Dr. Douglas Reeves says. For all I know, there was massive systematic cheating at his “successful” schools also. Remember Rod Paige was made U. S. Secretary of Education by George W. Bush because of the “miracles” that he performed in the Houston City Schools. Later, these “miracles” were disgracefully debunked and exposed in the national media as what? Systematic Cheating. Follow your heart, Mr. Scott. Don’t try to be politically correct. If you follow your heart, I believe that you will strike a harmonious chord with teachers throughout Georgia. In your heart, you know that I am right. You grew up in a family of educators. (c) MACE, February 12, 2010.
Jeff
February 12th, 2010
7:02 pm
ScienceTeacher671:
If only you knew the half of it. There are SEVERAL bills that would raise the mandatory attendance age to 17, and some would even raise it to 18! There are others that require first aid certification as a HS graduation requirement, and still others that do everything from change bullying and gang definitions to allow a temporary suspension of several State regulations on local school systems.
I’m keeping track of every single bill that gets a committee hearing on both SWGAPolitics.com and GeorgiaLegislativeWatch.com – your single best sources of bill-related coverage out there.
cricket
February 12th, 2010
7:10 pm
“Just wondering…are any of those 90-90-90 schools also on the Cheaters List?”
You betcha!
Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2010
7:17 pm
Maureen, My introductory remarks to Mr. Scott must have been surreptitiously captured in the filter by either an Ominous & Overwhelming Ox or a Deal Pickle. Is this an omen for Scott Tissue?
Maureen Downey
February 12th, 2010
7:45 pm
Dr. Trotter, Your comments are out and on the blog.
Maureen
Governor’s race 2010: Austin Scott on education « Austin Scott for Georgia Governor 2010
February 12th, 2010
7:54 pm
[...] Governor’s race 2010: Austin Scott on education Posted in Austin Scott, Education, Governor by JB on February 13, 2010 Governor’s race 2010: Austin Scott on education [...]
ScienceTeacher671
February 12th, 2010
8:03 pm
Jeff, thanks! Nice sites!
Ray
February 12th, 2010
8:22 pm
Both Trotter and Scott are no different from the crap status quo doing nothing to adequately fund our schools. If there were ever two people we need as far away from our schools as possible, it’s this ambulance chasing school lawyer and another Republican thinking he can pretend to be a Governor.
Get rid of crap teachers, protect good administrators from ambulance chasing lawyers, and, for God’s sake, NEVER vote for another GOP candidate for Gov.
Dr. John Trotter
February 12th, 2010
8:57 pm
Ray Ray, You insult me. I have never pretended to be a lawyer. I have never sat for the bar exam. I never intend to. I like lawyers and use them quite frequently. I like aggressive lawyers. I have never chased an ambulance, but I hear that it is fun. I may try it one day. I did graduate from a fine law school. I needed to take a sabbatical and decided to bone up a little on the law. It was fun. But, I already had a job, one in which I enjoy thoroughly. I also grabbed me another doctorate earlier in my life at UGA. That was fun too. It was in Educational Administrator. Wow. Am I an administrator? No, in fact, in many case, we have to “whup up” on abusive administrators. I am seriously thinking about getting a third doctorate in history (my undergraduate major) or theology or psychology. I have fun learning. I also have fun responding to “intense” folk like you. You must think that I am a Scott supporter. Never met the man or talked to him. Know nothing about him except what he wrote on this blog. Oh, but I see that you are a Democrat. Good. I vote for Democrats in some of the seats and Republicans in other seats. I encourage you to do the same. I do take except to your phrase “crap teachers.” I like teachers, and, like in any profession, there may be a few “crappy” ones but not “crap” ones. There are some “crappy” lawyers, “crappy” physicians, “crappy” dry cleaners, “crappy” architects, and so forth. But, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are even some “crappy” politicians and perhaps a few “crappy” gubernatorial candidates. I don’t know. But, I do think that at least one time in my life, I will see if I can chase down an ambulance. It will be tough, I am sure.
Ron Williams
February 12th, 2010
9:25 pm
Austin Scott is the only candidate for Governor who has reached across party lines to try and solve our states education problems. He has the respect and support of teachers across our state. His ideas are great and well recieved by the ones who educate our children. I should know, I’m married to one of those persons, and they are ready to see a Governor who is ready to tackle the problems they face on a daily basis. This isnt abouy Republicans or Democrats, its about someone who is ready to lead our state from day one of being sworn in. That person is Austin Scott!!!
say what?
February 12th, 2010
10:01 pm
dang he sounded like a serious contender until he said he wants to do some things that Zig Zag Zell has done. Zell talked about bipartisan efforts but that only meant for the 2 personalities residing within his body.
Legend of Len Barker
February 12th, 2010
10:29 pm
So under the Scott plan, those of us in the moderately poor, mediocre-scoring rural counties will be left out again? You’d think a Tifton native might actually be aware of what surrounds him. Of the six counties around Tift, five are left behind financially. Actually, it might be all six; I don’t know the funds Colquitt County receives.
I agree that we need to reach the inner city schools. But it’s frustrating that those of us in rural Georgia can’t get anything. Brantley County received a grand total of $500 one year from the state to spend on its schools. Scott’s son may indeed go to public schools in Tift County, but arguably Tift County has more to offer than Tiftarea Academy and outside of Lowndes County (but not forgotten Valdosta City), the county system is better than anyone else’s for a good distance. If Scott indeed cared about public schools, he’d know the situation going on in his own backyard. The state doesn’t mind building new schools, but adequately supplying them is a whole ‘nother story.
SE GA Teacher
February 12th, 2010
10:41 pm
I really don’t think it is the lack of adequate funding;it is how the money is spent. Does anyone have an idea how much money is spent on the CRCT in GA schools? I remember when they stopped the CRT back in the early 90’s and would love to see it happen again. We have way too many people in Atlanta and all school systems’ administrations going blind analyzing data. A good teacher knows her students’ strengths and weaknesses and concentrates on those. I feel like teachers are told exactly what to teach and when to teach it. Hey, I like a pacing guide, but we are getting ridiculous. Our lesson plans have to be more detailed than mine did way back in the 70’s at Georgia State, and I had some tough teachers! (I really liked them!)
Anyway, we have enough money thrown out for education, but let’s just use it wisely for once.
Concerned Parent
February 13th, 2010
3:14 am
“…educated means ready to go to work.” Wow. Next candidate please.
cd
February 13th, 2010
8:26 am
Ed Johnson,
If we are not educating our kids so they can ultimately get a job and go to work to support themselves in society, what are we teaching them for?
ScienceTeacher671
February 13th, 2010
9:01 am
cd, arguably we are – or should be – also educating them in the rights and responsibilities of participatory government, including giving them the skills to exercise those rights and responsibilities.
Ed Johnson
February 13th, 2010
9:54 am
cd,
Concerned Parent’s quip, at 3:14 am, offers insight to ponder.
octex
February 13th, 2010
9:56 am
As a HS teacher for APS just keep your mouth shut and play the game.
ga
February 13th, 2010
12:22 pm
Dr. Trotter – you need to get schooled on pbis. Your mantra about ‘order’, discipline and the like is O L D. These are kids, not robots.
Thelma
February 13th, 2010
3:47 pm
I guess it is because so many parents do want order and discipline in their childrens’ school is why there is such a great influx of students going into the private schools now. I totally agree with Dr. Trotter and think that you are coo coo.
ga
February 13th, 2010
4:12 pm
For every single person that uses children as scapegoats and blames them, not one offers solutions – just complaints. The schools and their attitude and lack of leadership is not helping these kids. I agree, kids need discipline, but beating them or expelling them is not the answer. Every child is entitled to a FAPE, whether you like the child’s parents, their background or not. All you folks who insist on scapegoating children are missing the mark. If the state is not committed to engaging and educating each individual child – then we will see growing numbers of drop outs, our already overcrowded jails will continue and worsen and our populous will grow dumber. Shame on Dr. Trotter’s shortsighted views.
ScienceTeacher671
February 13th, 2010
6:04 pm
ga, discipline doesn’t mean just “beating them or expelling them” and discipline doesn’t have to mean corporal punishment. Also, the research is still out on whether or not PBIS is effective. It’s very possible that, like most other educational interventions, it is more effective with some students or types of students than with others.
math 88
February 13th, 2010
6:38 pm
Geez ga…. it’s your kind of views that have forced my well behaved children into private school. Your child’s rights to a FAPE should not exceed my children’s rights to a FAPE. I am so tired of my child sitting there wasting time while the teacher tries to get undisciplined children to shut up and pay attention. Hence, our decision to move to a private school next year despite the fact that we love our childrens’ public school teachers.
high school teacher
February 13th, 2010
8:46 pm
If you want info on 90/90/90 schools, you can see a summary of the study at http://www.middleweb.com/MWLresources/accountaction.html. I imagine that the majority of Georgia schools are not a 90% minority population, so I disagree with using this model as a focus for education in GA. The second tenant of the schools’ successes, “clear curricular choices,” means nothing that the phrase suggests: “When the curriculum focuses on only a few areas, mathematics, language arts, and reading, and these areas are covered in all content areas, the results are that test scores go up in all areas, not just in the focus areas.”
OFF-topic: Maureen, have you heard about “Move On When Ready?” They must have passed this one while we were discussing furlough days. This program starts July 1 and will have a detrimental effect on our schools’ educational funding.
ga
February 13th, 2010
9:01 pm
math88 – my ‘unruly’ children deserve a voucher so I can decide where and how to meet my children’s needs. I pay income, property and sales taxes and my children deserve the same as even those privileged children who are lucky enough to attend a private school. Science teacher – pbis works if it is bought into, but if you have those who issue buzzkills at every turn, of course it wouldn’t work.
ScienceTeacher671
February 13th, 2010
9:48 pm
Move on When Ready was passed in the 2009 session of the General Assembly and STARTED July 1. I think it’s a great idea, especially since we don’t have true vocational education in most high schools.
high school teacher
February 13th, 2010
9:54 pm
My bad…our principal told us that it starts this July and that FTE funding follows the student to the post-secondary instutition, which is why I was so concerned about it… never mind…
ScienceTeacher671
February 13th, 2010
9:57 pm
I’m not sure how the funding works, but I don’t think too many of the students know about it yet, at least not where I teach.
high school teacher
February 13th, 2010
10:18 pm
I just found it on collegenews.com – the state money that normally goes to the school goes to the post-secondary institution, but the school can keep the local money for that student – like that helps in the smaller counties.
ScienceTeacher671
February 14th, 2010
9:48 am
high school teacher, that is probably why the schools aren’t making much noise about it or encouraging students to enroll in the post-secondary institutions.
ga, if it works, at some point there will be research to show that. Until that time, it’s only your opinion and another cure de jour….
By the Way
February 15th, 2010
2:44 pm
This is for the Concerned Parent: I am more concerned now with you, that you would not think your child should be educated then go to work. What are you going to do keep it up forever and not let it work? next dumb parent please!
DeKalb Conservative
February 15th, 2010
4:20 pm
While I think Mr. Scott has the best of intentions, I fear he may be calling himself a Republican because of some viewpoints, but in reality is set to govern as a Progressive if elected. Full disclosure, I do not like any of the Republican candidates as it currently stands, in particular John Oxendine, who is polling at 10x of Austin Scott. Whether Oxendine, Scott, or any of the other hopefuls win, I believe GA might have just found its own Martha Coakley.
DeKalb Conservative
February 15th, 2010
4:21 pm
I’ve seen Mr. Scott speak, even shook his hand, and I’m not very impressed. It was initially his focus on leveraging funding via speeding tickets for rural trauma centers that triggered red flags for me (if the new Super Speeder law is whipped cream on a Sunday, Mr. Scott’s plan is the cherry on top).
This submission and the very loose affiliation its content to current education principles have my head spinning. Outside of having a mother and a sister in teaching, I don’t think he has even the remote grasp of education that the average reader of this blog has. While that is not necessarily a bad thing in some cases, in this case where he is putting some much emphasis on ‘social justice’ robin hood tactics, I think he poses a danger to people in Georgia finding more friendly states such a FL, TN, even TX.
Sally
February 16th, 2010
12:00 am
I truly hope Georgians will vote in the BEST candidate and not some guy because he is a Republican. Ga education has fallen so far behind other states and its only getting worse.