Amendment One: A chance at a choice for students who today have neither
No one among us, if faced with a persistent disease and a physician who’d failed to cure it, would be content to continue consulting only that doctor — and, especially, to be told we could not seek a second opinion.
None of us believe we could live in a place with only one grocery store, selling only junk food, and be expected to maintain good health.
Nobody I know would want to learn a trade but have the opportunity to work for only one employer.
And I’m certain no American would stand for living in a country where just one name, the same name, appeared on the ballot year after year.
Yet that’s exactly the situation we expect thousands of students, parents and even teachers in Georgia to accept. We can take one small but important step toward changing that by approving Amendment One and increasing their educational choices.
This amendment, which would affirm the state’s role in creating public charter schools, is neither a magic potion nor an indictment of all traditional public schools. Many traditional public schools do a fine job educating many of their students, and nothing about Amendment One would change that.
This amendment is, however, a recognition that our system of offering a single public school to any given student, based on nothing but that student’s place of residence, has squandered the potential of too many kids who needed a different approach.
It is true that some people manage to overcome educational adversity. We rightly celebrate those parents, many of them single parents, who take on additional jobs, who drive long distances, who uproot their families — who do anything it takes to ensure their children can attend better schools. We are justifiably proud of those teachers who transcend red tape and a lack of support to help kids beat the odds.
These stories are truly extraordinary, some of them seemingly superhuman. But it defies these words’ definitions to expect the extra-ordinary and super-human of every person who faces such daunting circumstances.
In a sense, the Rev. Joseph Lowery was right when he recently warned against modern-day school segregation. What he missed is that we’ve already segregated our students — into those who have good public schools, those who have the means to escape the bad ones, and those who have neither — and that the radio advertisements he recorded placed him on the side of those who have given us that segregation.
What he missed is that, in a land where opportunity is supposed to be as close to equal as we can make it, the civil rights issue of our time concerns that third group of students, who are ensnared in a system that diminishes their opportunities.
Opponents of Amendment One have cast it as a partisan, race-based measure, when support for this measure has united Georgians of various ideologies, backgrounds and colors in a way few recent political issues have. They have conjured all manner of supposition about the motives of those who support state charter schools or would approve them (or those who would appoint the approvers), about the numbers of schools that would be created and what their student bodies would look like, about what would happen to those who didn’t attend these new schools.
What they haven’t done is advance a persuasive defense of the system they seek to protect, the one that has left so many people so desperate for another choice.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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246 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
November 5th, 2012
3:16 pm
Amendment One: A chance for the well off to send their kids to a sudo-private school on the taxpayers’ dime.
Um…no.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
Count down,
You just want to pick a fight. I suggested an alternative to those who do not like Glovernor Deal. That is not a command.
I love Georgia. You should hear Ray Charles and me singing “Georgia on my mind” all around the house. Nothing like it!!
BW
November 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
Kyle
Nah…there are still too many questions about accountability for me to pull that lever yes
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
Finn @ 3:11
Don’t begrudge the him. Probably all he is in terms of family and friends.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
I want you to know
That school is a “sudo”!
And if you didn’t know,
Peadawg said so.
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
Dusty
Stop being a hypocrite and demonstrate that you are willing to do what you suggest others do.
No need to cry and moan as you usually do.
It is a new day. Make a new start and lead by example.
mike
November 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
“If President Obama wins re-election on Tuesday, the historical memory of the race might turn on the role played by Hurricane Sandy.
Already, some analysts are describing the storm as an “October surprise” that allowed Mr. Obama to regain his footing after stumbling badly in the first presidential debate and struggling to get back on course. Some Republicans seem prepared to blame a potential defeat for Mitt Romney on the storm, and the embrace of Mr. Obama by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other public officials.”
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
Yeah, that’s it! It was that doggone hurricane that did him in! Poor old Romney didn’t stand a chance against a hurricane.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
“Dude lives on here.”
Pot – meet Kettle.
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
3:29 pm
The faux conservative pre-election meltdown is in full swing here at Kyle’s, I see.
In 30 hours or so, I’m expecting a full-on tsunami of neocon crocodile tears for their candyass candidate.
Then let the excuse making begin in earnest!!
JDW
November 5th, 2012
3:31 pm
@Tiberius….”I accept your surrender”
I am beginning to think your golden years will be spent in a nice comfy padded room where reality is not an issue.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
The nice thing about a potential Romney win is that we won’t see anything different from AmVet.
He’ll still be the biggest a$$ on any blog.
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
Oooooh,
tibs willfully violates Rule #1 at Mr. Wingfield’s!!! Yet again. And again. And again.
Bailiff, whack his pee pee!
And Mr. Wingfield, send this serial miscreant to the blogging Land of Nod where he can no longer hurl his hurtful and endless unprovoked insults at the other children!
Schnort…
Aquagirl
November 5th, 2012
3:38 pm
He’ll still be the biggest a$$ on any blog.
Dang, I better up my game.
mountain man
November 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
“You educate all the children as best you can.”
But you aren’t. You keep the better students locked up and TRAPPED with the discipline problems and the socially promoted, far-behind students. So the better kids (of whatever color) lose. With a charter school option, these students might get the opportunity to excell, rather than be held back. There is NO downside to the remaining problem children.
As I said on Maureen’s blog – you seem to want ALL the passengers of the large ship EDUCATION to drown together since we only have a lifeboat big enough for 10% of the kids.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
Dear JamVet
You are so full of .. tacos.
Did you tear youself away from Bookman’s to give us your words of wisdom?
We were awaiting beathlessly on shield and dagger alert!! Yes!!
Do me a favor, please. Do have a fight with Count Down.
He’s itching for a fight and I don’ t feel like slinging mud today.
Must be the cool weather. But you and earnest can warm his lil’ heart.
mike
November 5th, 2012
3:42 pm
People who come onto the blog with personal attacks and little to nothing of substance to say will be subject to a permanent ban.
Is this the rule you’re talking about, Jam? If Kyle were to ban Tiberius, the whole thing would shut down.
JDW
November 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
@Mike…”Yeah, that’s it! It was that doggone hurricane that did him in!”
I for one can’t wait to here the range of excuses that are made by the Republicans to escape the central reason for the loss it seems is about a 90% certainty at this point.
Until the Republican Party escapes the clutches of the Tea Party/Neo Cons they are doomed to defeat. When the party of Eisenhower and to some extent Reagan returns they will be competitive again.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 5th, 2012
3:44 pm
a potential Romney win
Where is the confidence? And the reality begins to set in.
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
3:47 pm
Dusty
No fight. You are a light weight for sure.
Merely demonstrated your hypocrisy.
Hopefully JamVet will come back and you two can converse.
Enjoy.
mike
November 5th, 2012
3:48 pm
You just can’t give up, though. There’s always 2016 and Newt’s Nutty Moonbase. Or maybe Ricky will cut off our sex and contraception. Or maybe Michele will enjoy another Corndog. But, most of all, maybe Donald Combover will shave his head!
Whew! I was having the strangest dream there. I dreamt that…naw, it’ll never happen.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:51 pm
Tiberious hasn’t broken any rules. He plays a nice game of chess and the losers do hate the game.
Too bad the homeless have to join us in our merry game. Those troublemakers far from their cowering crowd!
Adiios amigos! May you find your way home and shed your tears there. We’lll miss you .. sorta…a lil bit…kinda…maybe…yeah…you betcha!!.
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
Some want to be the boss so bad they can’t stand it. So funny to read.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
JDW
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch (’cause your eggs are cracked not to mention your friends)!
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
3:59 pm
mike
I suggest your stop eating those black bean burritoes before bedtime. You might sleep better.
Rush
November 5th, 2012
4:01 pm
Another rich one…….Finn stating someone else lives on Kyle’s blog.
Rush
November 5th, 2012
4:03 pm
Looks like the libtards want to shut down any thinking that dissents from their own drivel…..don’t you libtards have Bookie man for that? He seems to enjoy banning any dissenting thoughts.
mike
November 5th, 2012
4:05 pm
Dusty: “I suggest your stop eating those black bean burritoes before bedtime.”
That’s how I fill up the car with “bio-gas!” Donchaknow?
BTW, what a great Falcons game last night. Dallas is a much-improved team than what they were at the beginning of the season.
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
4:06 pm
Rush
Did he shut you down?
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
4:13 pm
Tiberious hasn’t broken any rules.
You lie!
As mike noted – in bold, no less – personal attacks are expressly forbidden in Kyle’s rules of engagement.
The other kids were arguing with tibs earlier this afternoon. I made a post not directed at him or about him in an any fashion whatsoever. Then without provocation and in a most malicious manner imaginable (faux outrage, here!), he called me the biggest ass on this blog!
He is an unapologetic repeat offender and needs to pay his debt to blogging society! (Notwithstanding you soft on crime Republicans and assorted, ethically challenged cover-up specialists like Dusty.)
Off with this head!
Schnort…
Del
November 5th, 2012
4:16 pm
I say it would be unAmerican to vote for Obama.
Count Down
November 5th, 2012
4:19 pm
“I say it would be unAmerican to vote for Obama.”
And you have that right to say it, but it doesn’t make it so.
Same applies when the left says stupid things. Saying it, doesn’t make it so.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
4:19 pm
What?
The Falcons won last night? Really?
I did see a “gentleman” running through my front yard yesterday waving a UGA banner and screaming “Bulldogs! Bulldogs! Bow wow wow! We won and how!”. He was youngish, red headed, carried a baby bottle, and had AJC tatooed on his forehead.(I think it was a baby bottle.) I haven’t seen much of him today.
Just a guess but I don’t think he’s a Falcon fan.
teaching taxpayer
November 5th, 2012
4:20 pm
The increasingly shrill tone of Amendment 1 supporters, especially Nathan Deal (with his remarks about “political arsonists”), suggests they are very worried about this amendment’s fate. If it fails, it will not do so because of liberals. It will fail because enough small-government conservatives and tea party members see Amendment 1 for the blatant power grab it is and vote “No” to Deal’s crony capitalism. Give us a clean amendment with a CHOICE over the charter commission!
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
4:35 pm
Well, at least tibby has been reduced to lurking status again…
On topic, this amendment is just more big Republican state government bureaucracy run amok. (”Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem.”)
Which is exactly why I expect that it will pass handily here in Georgia.
Look no farther that the phraseology of this dud…
Provides for improving
student achievement
and parental
involvement through
more public charter
school options.
House Resolution No. 1162
Act No. 762
Ga. L. 2012, p. 1364
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia
be amended to allow state or local
approval of public charter schools
upon the request of local
communities?”
Just say no.
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
4:38 pm
Yes yes! The rules! The rules! My kindgom for a rule!
Absolutely!
We should all REPORT JAMVET TO THE HIGEST COMMISSAR for claimiing some innocent is telling a lie! Me! Oh the horror of it all!! Where is the fainting couch? And then to admonish Tiberious for telling the truth!!
The Dracula of Doraville is loose again and the moon is full! Oh my! Beware! He will even steal your CocoCrispies and your Strawberry streudel in the dark of the night.! There must be justice!
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
4:42 pm
Save the histrionics, D.
You lie and you lie and you lie.
(It’s the Christian thing to do!)
Dusty
November 5th, 2012
4:52 pm
So JamVet
(It’s the Christian thing to do!)
How would you know?
Jack Moore
November 5th, 2012
5:10 pm
You are a liar. You KNOW what you are saying is not true. This whole amendment was conceived in deceptive language, funded by out of state for profit companies, and enforced by thugs in the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office and the courts. I dare you to write a column one year from today if this amendment passes and answer this: (1) how many schools did the new commission charter in Clayton County? (2) how many in the City of Atlanta? (3) how many “private” public academies in the suburbs? (4) how many are run by the for profit companies that funded this campaign? (5) what contributions did these companies make to Governor (let’s make a) Deal? (6) how much more funding was cut from the public schools in 2013?
oldfart
November 5th, 2012
5:48 pm
It is beyond comprehension how someone could consider themselves a “conservative” and vote for adding more bureaucracy to siphon off more tax dollars to add literally a “nanny state” commission to override locally elected and already constitutional school boards If you don’t get your charter school through the 2 methods already available there is still a third one. You VOTE THEM OUT. There is no such recourse for this proposed commission.
Dave
November 5th, 2012
5:53 pm
“What they haven’t done is advance a persuasive defense of the system they seek to protect, the one that has left so many people so desperate for another choice.”
And what you and the other supporters haven’t done is advance a persuasive argument that the misleading proposal will fix our educational system. This one doesn’t work, let’s do something different that excludes most of the kids in the system, is supported by out of state, commercially biased support and is run by people appointed by Governor Deal, who never met a friend or supporter that shouldn’t be appointed to a position paying six figures. No thanks.
Dave
November 5th, 2012
5:55 pm
And what Jack Moore said at 5:10, other than the name calling.
itpdude
November 5th, 2012
6:19 pm
This is just another phase of starving-the-beast. Simple as that.
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, NO HOW........
November 5th, 2012
6:19 pm
There is absolutely no way, no how that I will vote for this amendment, period…….if they live in a bad school area, TOO FREAKING BAD…..they can move……and if not, when they turn into criminals, they can go to jail – if for life…..oh boo hoo…..
School Mom
November 5th, 2012
6:32 pm
Your statement, “This amendment is, however, a recognition that our system of offering a single public school to any given student” is uninformed. House Bill 251 passed by the GA legislature provides choice for any school within the district that has space available. Parents must provide transportation and register for this as set by local school districts. Senate Bill 10 allows for any student with an IEP to choose any school within the school district that offers services needed for the child. Either of these requires parents to provide transportation as does the charter amendment. Choice is available and a process is in place for charter schools to be approved by local school districts and by the state. The amendment is about state control of schools and money. Vote NO if you care about all students having quality educations.
aj
November 5th, 2012
7:17 pm
Have any of the people attended or visited public schools recently? They are usually segregated with either token numbers of minorities or token amounts of whites and people are not represented in proportion to their number in the general population of this State.
Irrespective of whether the amendment passess charter schools will exist and continue to exist. Although the amendment might provide an additional choice I feel that proponents are failing to inform the public that if a local school board turns down a charter school there is a means by which parents can appeal to the state instead of to the commission which is contemplated. This I suspect is why the state superintendent is at odds with the governor who is a member of his own party. This is a classic turf dispute and the superintendent does not want to give up this turf.
The potential problem with the amendment is in the implementation. In theory local school board officials are accountable to voters and parents; and the state legislators and state school superintendent is accountable to voters. However, there has been some discussion about this amendment being administered by a commission that would consist of appointees. This could result in favortism or cronyism.
Perhaps this is balanced out by the fact that if performance goals aren’t met the charter can be revoked and thus some accountability is retained by the system.
This however, highlights the fact charter schools in some or many instances will be experiments. On one hand, Is this fair to the students? On the other hand maybe it will force us to give up on the idea of one size fits all education. Some students need hands on learning experiences. Some students learn better when in an all boy or all girl environment. I think some parents are simply seeking a better deal or a more perfect union between the school, the student, the parents and the community instead of being handed the standard educational rental contract.
But be careful of asking for the deluxe luxury upgrade. It may cost more to maintain that luxury ride. A charter school is not a magic wand Charter schools that suceed often have longer school days for students and teacher and shorter, if any summer vacations. Students will take home more homework; your child will spend some doing doing research at the library in addition to research online. Parents are also required to work harder and volunteer between 10-30 hours of helping out around the school (e.g., helping with a book fair, chaperoning field trips, loading and unloading band equipment, maintaining athletic fields, staffing the nurses station). Which basically means you have to roll up your sleeves and work harder. Why can’t these changes be implemented on a wider basis? Herein lies the fallacy behind the level playing field and the purported giving equal dollars for teachers, equipment and books to impoverished students and schools. Well to do neighborhoods generally put more sweat equity into their schools whether they are public or private. Generally, students who excel are those in whom more than just mere dollars have been invested. They are the students for who have been exposed to more tthan just the curriculum offered at the school.
Although public education is free you cannot get something for nothing. You have to put in the sweat equity.
Master (de)Bater
November 5th, 2012
9:40 pm
Aquagirl @ 9:25 am
“People who want my money without my input are called thieves.”
Holy crap! Aquagirl is a conservative after all! Who knew?!