The recent push for school vouchers in Georgia reminds me of the attempt by wealthy special interest groups to influence the Georgia Supreme Court race two years ago.

In this race, a highly respected judge, Carol Hunstein, was challenged with well-funded attack ads, $1.3 million of which were paid for by a group from Washington called the American Justice Partnership. However, voters proved not to be as gullible as the partnership thought they were and re-elected Hunstein.

Those who believe in public education are also likely to prove this new group of influence peddlers, the Michigan-based All Children Matter, wrong about school vouchers.

The question is why, after two centuries of unprecedented American economic success and world influence —- both indicators of a well-educated citizenry —- have we even considered abandoning public education in favor of state-supported private education?

How have we created a culture where school vouchers appear to be a viable alternative? First, conservative think tanks create a national program (No Child Left Behind) using the readily acceptable "higher standards" as justification. Then the government underfunds the program to achieve the desired mediocrity.

Next, a proving-ground state such as Georgia further underfunds its school systems. This creates a total disconnect between the State Department of Education, the Legislature and the classroom. Parents become outraged. Finally, the think tanks parade out phrases such as "school choice" and "competition between schools" and promise voucher programs will come to the rescue of the failing schools the government helped create. The result: throwing vast amounts of tax dollars at the new corporate schools that will pop up all over to teach a select few of our children. The students without vouchers? Well, let them eat cake.

The very best way for Georgia to achieve the educational promise and success that its children deserve is to fully support, with smart direction from the state, our public school system and not abandon it with "they can do better" ideology of vouchers. Traditionally, our schools have been at the center of strong community life. To throw that relationship away would be tragic.

So, how do we strengthen our schools? To paraphrase the venerable Ronald Reagan: "Republicans are not the ones we can seek to find solutions to the problem. They are the problem." I would add that some Democrats don't understand it either.

When I was teaching in the DeKalb County public school system, sometimes the parent of a struggling student would ask to have a conference. The parent's first statement was almost always, "My child has always done well in math before he got into your class." True, the child would have a good homework record, but his test scores didn't match. I would simply tell the parent what was obvious to me: The child was only going through the motions with preparation and attention in class. After a short pause where realism set in, the parent would ask the magic question, "What can I do to help?" I still recall the electricity generated by that seemingly small statement. It became the moment I created a bond with that parent, and because the student knew that bond existed, I always saw a complete turn-around in the student's performance. Suddenly, he was successful.

That small lesson tells me the secret to success in Georgia's public educational system.

Foremost, success requires parent and community involvement in our schools. But it also means making wise decisions about curriculum, which I believe the State Department of Education is seeking. It means a state Legislature that demands proper funding to implement these goals.

Most of all it is up to all of us to make the real choice. Do we abandon our schools, or do we ask, "What can I do to help?"

> Martin McConaughy is a retired schoolteacher living in Tucker.

 JON KRAUSE / NewsArt