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DEL.ICIO.USTeachers shun Cox for Taylor
But their Republican endorsements — Kathy with a 'K' and Casey Cagle — are just as interesting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The big news of the day, of course, is the endorsement of Mark Taylor for governor by the Georgia Association of Educators.
For newcomers, the teachers organization is probably the most important Democratic constiuency, after African-Americans.
Endorsements are often instances of politically savy groups betting on likely winners. Jeff Hubbard, president-elect of the group, cited Taylor’s long track record with educators. But the timing suggests that the current downturn of the Cathy Cox campaign made the GAE decision easier.
The GAE also gave clean bills of health to all three major Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor: Greg Hecht, Jim Martin and Steen Miles.
But the surprises were the two Republicans the group endorsed. Casey Cagle, in the primary race for lieutenant governor. And Kathy Cox for school superintendent.
Think about that last one. The GAE withholds its approval from Gov. Sonny Perdue, who truly holds the reins on education in the state. But the group endorses his chief lieutenant. It damns Perdue for cuts to education funding, but compliments K-Cox for doing well with the remander.
“Superintendent Cox has faced tough economic challenges with cuts to education funding and has worked hard to implement the cumbersome No Child Left Behind law in Georgia,” GAE said in its endorsement statement.
Odd, but perhaps not overly so. If an endorsement is a bet, where do you think the better odds are in a general election? A race between Mark Taylor and incumbent Sonny Perdue? Or Democrat Denise Majette versus Kathy Cox in the race for state school superintendent?
Comments
By Jeff
June 7, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
This is one teacher that will NEVER IN ANY WAY vote for Mark Taylor. If them Dems put up Taylor, Perdue has my vote, no questions asked. If they put up Cox, I’ll go with the one with the better ideas…
By Cosmo
June 7, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter who the GAE endorses, Perdue is going to win the election.
By James
June 7, 2006 06:07 PM | Link to this
Does anyone else find it strange that a teacher’s union that endorses K-Cox, the awful Republican superintendent of schools would also endorse Mark Taylor? Am I missing something? Any teacher’s union that would endorse a woman that tried to take Georgia public education back into the dark ages on evolution isn’t the kind of teacher’s union that I will listen to. Neither of the candidates that they have endorsed will get my vote.
By Lori
June 7, 2006 07:30 PM | Link to this
Too bad the GAE didn’t poll their membership to select their choice for governor or they would have found out they picked the wrong guy. Cathy Cox has huge support from teachers all over the state. Mark Taylor has no plan for education if elected - not that he can get past Perdue anyway - while Cathy has a comprehensive, smart plan.
By CDog
June 7, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this
Most public school teachers are conservative and/or Republican, so this is really a moot point. Teachers who are members of GAE or PAGE are so largely for the liability insurance, not because they agree with the leftist policies or the organizations. Many are even ignorant of the political ideologies of these organizations; they are just strongly encouraged to join one by the colleges where they graduate.
I am a public school teacher that would like to see:
(1) lowering/elimination of state income tax, elimination of property taxes, and elimination of vehicle ad valorem tax
(2)Strengthing of HOPE scholarship standards by requiring a minimum SAT score of 1000 to receive it
(3) Allowing parents who send their children to private schools or homeschools not to have to fund public schools
(4) Allowing teachers the choice of opting out of the teacher retirement system and using that money how they see fit.
(5) Outlawing of abortion except to save the life of the mother
(6) Even stricter measures against illegal immigration.
Perdue is going to win handily. No Democrat is going to win a state election in Georgia for a long time because their coreviews/values do not align with most Georgians.
BTW, I applaud Kathy Cox of attempting to reform the state religion of evolution. Mindlessly saying that evolution is a fact does not make it so. Everything came from a rock about 3 billion years by blind, random chance? How is that scientific? How is that observable, measurable, falsifiable, or reproducible in an experiment? Guess what? It’s not! The evolution theory being taught in our schools is the dumbest and most dangerous religion in the history of planet earth
By Teacher Teacher
June 7, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this
GAE is a joke and hardly represents teachers as it allows administrators membership. Also, elite officers and committee members decide which politicians receive endorsement. The rank-and-file members have no say. GAE has done more to hurt teachers than to help them, and I say this because of how GAE cozies up to administrators at the expense of teachers. The concept of liability insurance was always a red herring, and all that lobbying that GAE supposedly does on behalf of teachers is done more so behalf of the lobbyists themselves who strive for political advantage and jobs outside of teaching. Any educator who would so willingly leave the classroom in order to lord it over any GAE-affiliaed group should be booted from the profession. Those who really care about children being taught in Georgia’s classrooms are the actual teachers who tough it out and continue to try to teach despite all the nonsense perpetrated beneath the Gold Dome and in the various GAE-affiliated offices around the State.
The true teachers union in the State of Georgia endorses teachers! Click here for info about it.
By MikeK
June 7, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this
CDog I can only hope that you’re not a science teacher. You might want to read up on the theory and FACT of evolution before you start spouting off statements that frankly make you look like an idiot. By the way, scientists have been able to observe evolution in action in fruit flies and other animals.
By Gypsy Lady
June 8, 2006 12:18 AM | Link to this
Given the percentage of students who will likely be repeating 8th grade because they failed the tests, I’m not sure what K. Cox and Sonny have accomplished. We have to determine exactly why our students are doing so poorly in basic reading, math, science, history, etc. and then take whatever steps are needed to fix the problem. If it takes classes with 20 students, it’s worth the cost. If it takes making sure every child has breakfast and lunch so that they’re focused on learning and not on an empty stomach, we need to do that. If it takes uniforms, separating the boys and girls, providing after-school programs that are designed to help them learn to love reading, using art/music/sports etc. as techniques to help teach other subjects, WHATEVER, we need to make it happen. We can’t continue to be at the bottom or near the bottom of all states in the quality of education that we give Georgia’s children. Are they asking teachers what the problem is? Politicians need to go to the people who work with these kids, day in and day out, and TALK to them about what they see as the roadblocks to a decent education in this state! I’ll gladly pay my fair share of taxes for educational programs that WORK!
By trueblue
June 8, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this
Mark Taylor will never be able to deliver whatever he has promised that got this endorsement-besides I hear from dozens of teachers that they were not consulted before pledging to endorse Taylor and would like to see the techers in the state polled. The powers that be of GAE are few, the teachers are many and they say they strongly support Cathy Cox. Even teachers in Taylor’s home town of Albany say they support Cathy Cox. Plainly put, this endorsement gets him a few votes—that’s it! Her plan for education blows his away and she’ll get their support at the polls. Money from Taylor’s daddy will be enough to buy the teachers votes come 7/18!
By HeartofGa
June 8, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this
I know many teachers, school board memebers and administrators and have yet to hear a single one express support for Taylor. Most can’t believe that Georgia Democrats could possiblly be stupid enough to nominate him. One of the things that bothers me about this endorsement is the statement of the incoming president of the union. He said that this was not even a hard choice. That’s ridiculous on it’s face and smacks of bias. I’d love to know what the back story is there.
By Reed
June 8, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this
Given what I’m hearing from teachers, I would urge that all GAE members that don’t agree with this sham endorsement to take public action against GAE and Mark Taylor. Your union is supposed to speak on your behalf, not put words into your mouth.
I read a newspaper article from Americus the other day where he claimed to be the “originator” of Hope. But the head scratcher is that he doesn’t even have a plan for education available to the public. Cox does.
By dumbfounded
June 8, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this
Governor Perdoofus has spoken.
By brian
June 8, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
GAE doesn’t speak for me. As a retired teacher and a former member of GAE, I am disappointed in their endorsement. I support Cathy Cox because I’ve read her plans for education and they are what we need. Mark doesn’t even have a plan. And didn’t he go to private schools anyway??? Boo on the GAE!
By TitletownUSA
June 8, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this
My wife is a public school teacher. My mother-in-law is a retired special ed teacher who still does volunteer work with her school in Canton. Both are members of GAE and are HOT! They were not even asked.
I can guarantee you that Mark Taylor will not receive a vote from our home or from anyone in our families. We’ll be supporting Cathy Cox. And if Mark Taylor wins the primary, Sonny Perdue will get our votes in November.
By GJJ
June 8, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
Another union endorsement for Taylor…big surprise.
By Kimberly
June 8, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this
I have heard very strong support from teachers for Mark Taylor especially in the rural area. I believe there is more support from Atlanta for Cox but there is a lot more to Georgia than the Metro area.
By Georgia teacher
June 8, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this
I resent the title of the article claiming “teachers” shun Cox. First of all, GAE doesn’t represent all teachers. I am a teacher and I support Cathy Cox. What Cathy can do for education should greatly outweigh what little impact on education Mark Taylor has had. Secondly, perhaps the great GAE committee that endorsed the big guy should have done a better job of speaking for their membership since so many GAE members are for Cox. Dear AJC, check out your Georgia teachers (whether they are PAGE or GAE) and see what overwhelming support Cathy has!
By PAGE
June 8, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this
GAE certainly does not speak for all educators! I will support Cathy Cox and I know of many other educators that support Cathy!
By Dental Floss Tester
June 8, 2006 07:45 PM | Link to this
Do educators really want The Fat Guy or is this just another union that was bought and paid for with his rich daddy’s money? Making a cocaine addict the CEO isn’t the kind of lesson Georgia kids need. The only thing about Taylor is genuine is his desire to elimate the tax on food as illustrated by his ample girth. Andy Young you should be ashamed of yourself.
By Sharon
June 8, 2006 09:51 PM | Link to this
The teachers lost all credibility with me when they voted in Perdue in the first place. Now the GAE endorses Kathy Cox, Kathy Cox who embarassed the whole state when she capitulated to the religious right with the evolution debaucle? Sheesh…..
By diddly-squat
June 9, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this
As my name implies, Fat Guy doesn’t know diddly-squat about education. He didn’t even go to public school, for heaven’s sake. There’s a little fishy smell to this endorsement— I KNOW all teachers do not endorse FGTaYLOR, SO GAE leaders cannot speak for them. Cathy Coxhas a plan, whereas Taylor can only say Hope and how he falsely started it.
By Leah
June 9, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this
GAE endorsing a fundamentalist encouraging the teaching of ignorance to our students? And then they endorse a rich white guy that graduated from Deerfield Windsor, an all white private academy in Albany?
I can go to Cathy Cox’s website and pull up her education plan. Why can’t I do that on Mark Taylor’s? If GAE thinks he has a better plan, I’m not willing to take their word for it. I want to see it myself.
By buck
June 9, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this
Which one is the fat guy?
By Stephen Geer
June 9, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this
Just as the president of the GAE said, “it was an easy decision” to endorse Mark Taylor over Cathy Cox. I wonder why?
Just look at the big guys record on education! Cathy has done nothing.
Georgian’s are tired of hearing retoric on what a candidate may do, they want to see what they have done. Mark has done so much and Cathy nothing.
This endorsement was the final blow to to the Cox campaign. Mark and Sonny in November.
By Lara
June 9, 2006 06:08 PM | Link to this
I thought Cox campaigners learned their lessons about posting to try and get momentum swung their way. Guess they didn’t learn anything. Many teachers will vote for Taylor because he has given strong support for education his entire time in the legislature. They know that Taylor is going to help them get the money and resources they need to get the job done. Where has Cox been this whole time while Taylor was actually working towards helping our children? She was out spending money on TV ads to boost her name recognition. Who knows what she will do with the state money if she was in charge.
By KEC
June 10, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
The AJC should be ashamed of lumping all teachers together in this headline! The GAE doesn’t begin to represent all teachers…and there are many EDUCATORS across Georgia who do and will support Cathy Cox at the polls. She has great ideas, based in research, about how to support educational improvement in our state…and when elected to a position that can effect education (the SOS position is not one that does so), she will make a difference.
By shanb
June 10, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this
I am a member of GAE and have been teaching in the public school system for 25 years. I am a big supporter of CATHY COX. As with any organization, GAE does not speak for all members… look at the facts, look at the plan. Cathy is by far the best choice.
By Lynn
June 13, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this
Kathy Cox is not a friend to education in Georgia. She is without a doubt a very bright woman but she remains unaware of the real turmoils of the average classroom teacher. Between the new GPS and NCLB, Georgia’s youth are being prepared for a mediocre education that will provide good “numbers” for those in the news. Sad.
By robdawg06
June 13, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this
The real problem facing education and the teachers that teach it is the parents and the students. Many parents don’t care if their kids do homework or study. And the kids go home and play video games and play outside until dark. Its easy to blame teachers but I think the teachers should be neutral in the blame. Don’t praise them or fault them. Praise and fault the students and the parents. If a majority of the students pass a teacher’s class then its obviously not the teacher’s inability to teach. I know that there are some bad teachers in schools but there’s far many more bad students for whatever their personal reasons. My wife is a teacher so I know what I’m talking about.
By Susan
June 14, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
It appears that some of your bloggers still do not know the difference between Kathy Cox education superintendent and Cathy Cox, Ssecretary of State who is the candidate for governor. Cathy Cox the SOS, has regulatory responsibilities, Taylor on the otherhand, has been part of the legislative process. So, let’s look at Taylor’s past record with education and Cathy’s proposed plans and see who is the better candidate.