Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2007 > January > 27 > Entry

Grand day for students with special needs

By Jim Wooten | Saturday, January 27, 2007, 09:14 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s a rare treat to be present when the Earth moves, when change comes to an institution that has clung to yesterday despite the collapse and transformation of the world it served.

That happened last week in a committee room across the street from the Georgia Capitol. The institution of public education, protected always by the turf-defending warriors of the status quo, shifted slightly in a new direction Thursday. The Senate Education and Youth committee approved and sent to the Senate floor a bill authored by President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah). The full Senate is likely to act this week.

There’s nothing radical about the bill, the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act. It would give choice — and the state and federal money being used to educate them — to parents to buy the special education services their child needs. They could spend the money, expected to average about $9,000, in the private sector or in another public school system. If parents are content with the services the public school is providing, they are free to remain. It’s honest-to-goodness choice.

But the scholarships threaten because they are seen as a precursor to a full-scale voucher offering — something I support, but, as Johnson pointed out, key Republicans, including State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, don’t. (Johnson acknowledges that he supports a broader use of vouchers than the bill could be accused of offering.)

If you wanted to see in one afternoon the defining philosophical difference between those who have run Georgia and those who are now in power, it was here, in this committee and in the hall outside. After testifying in support of the bill, Johnson stood outside, facing skeptical reporters and angry or nervous advocates.

This is a scene where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich excelled. Gingrich knew what he believes. He’d thought it through. He understood the ramifications. And he never retreats from his position. That was Johnson Thursday, and it should be the role model for the conservative majority in Georgia. When conservatives employ the buzzwords or phrases — “user fees” is one, local control is another — and apply them to mask the cost and expansion of government, it’s immature or misguided conservatism.

The proper course is the one Johnson sets in this bill. Believe in the free market, believe in choice, believe in giving parents the tools to help them take responsibility for their children, and create government in that image. That is exactly what the Special Needs Scholarship Act does.

Johnson was not shy in defending the bill, even when opponents rushed to inject the v-word — which under the prior regime was the kiss of death.

“There’s nothing dirty about the v-word,” Johnson asserted. “Somebody decided vouchers are bad for public education, but it’s not bad” for the HOPE voucher program, which on Thursday was being celebrated by Gov. Sonny Perdue and former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller for having aided a million Georgians to attend college. Nor is voucher a dirty word when public funds are used to buy pre-k services from public and private providers, he noted. Nor was it when used to send GIs to college after military service. Medicaid is a voucher, he said. And food stamps. And vouchers exist, too, for housing.

It’s acceptable, therefore, to offer vouchers that give people a choice of food, medical care. Pre-k is acceptable, too, and post-high school. But not in between. Only about 5 percent of Georgia’s special needs children are likely to take scholarship — or voucher, depending on what you call the HOPE stipend.

The arguments against the Johnson bill come from the alphabet groups that stalk the legislative halls, often during the former regime terrorizing any legislator who dared to propose real reform: GSSA, GSBA, PAGE, GPTA, GCASE, GAMSP, GAESP, GAE, GAEL, GACIS — the school superintendents, school board members, teachers unions and others. It’s a formidable, often self-interested network that one day will own this legislature, just as it did the old one.

Jamie Self, vice president for public policy of the Georgia Family Council, spoke marvelously, dispelling an argument against such programs — that parents aren’t smart enough to evaluate alternative schools.

“Many parents are well aware of the many arguments made here today by the education establishment — and they are insulted,” said Self. “These parents are experts in their children, in their child’s disabilities, in the laws regulating schools and in the offerings of neighboring school systems or private schools.

“The message from these parents is, ‘give us a little credit.’ “

• Jim Wooten is associate editor of the editorial board. His column appears Sunday, Tuesdays and Fridays.

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Comments

By WootenDull

January 28, 2007 08:03 AM | Link to this

It would give choice — and the state and federal money being used to educate them — to parents to buy the special education services their child needs.

Jim: What if the child doesn’t have parents, which is something your “news”paper is pushing as hard as it can to make happen?

Mark my words, before long the AJC will advocate abandoning children if being a parent cramps your sexual freedom.

Some things are just more important than others.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

CAMPAIGN IDOL: HILLARY’S NATIONAL ANTHEM CAUGHT ON OPEN MIC…

This is absolutely hillaryious, the Pig Monster can’t remember the first part of the National Anthem and when she does start lip reading and trying to keep up, it’s all creaking and groaning from the depths of the worst chamber of horrors, hahaha, where the F is Bill at?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

From the website listed on a sign carried by the protestors prominently displayed on the front page of the Urinal:

OCCUPATION: WRONG IN IRAQ, WRONG IN PALESTINE- Worse, Bush has given unqualified support to the illegal occupation policies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He has backed Sharon’s brutal military measures, extra-judicial assassinations, and apartheid-like wall snaking through the West Bank.- UnitedForPeace.org

Huh, no wonder attendance at the rally was way, way, way below estimates, not many sane people want to spend Saturday afternoon with Jimmy Carter.

And another little jewel, this one from WorldCantWait.org:

An Open Letter Calling on UC Boulder to Reverse its Decision to Dismiss Professor Ward Churchill- The relentless pursuit of and punitive approach of the University of Colorado at Boulder to Professor Ward Churchill is a revealing instance of the ethos that is currently threatening academic freedom. The voice of the university and intellectual community needs to be heard strongly and unequivocally in defense of dissent and critical thinking.

The same whackos, different protest.

At least they aren’t burning any houses or Honey Baked Ham stores.

Anybody have an aerial photo of the protest so that we can see how small the crowd really was?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

It’s attack the family day at the Urinal!

LIFE, LOVE AND THE UNMARRIED WOMAN: Is marriage disintegrating or just evolving?

LOVE, LIFE AND THE UNMARRIED WOMAN: Single and looking beats empty marriage

UNMARRIED WOMEN: RELIEF AND SADNESS

UNMARRIED WOMEN: Q&A / JANE GANAHL, author: ‘I don’t need a man to complete me’

And finally Queen Pinko’s usual bald faced lies:

The latest news on marriage confirms what we already knew: With 51 percent of women living without husbands, the traditional family no longer dominates our culture.

Real nice, not only is the Atlanta Journal Constitution continuing to do irrepairable harm to America culture, with their sexual gratification as the real underlying motive, they have to use falsified stories to even broach the subject:

New York Times that blared, “51% of Women Are Now Living Without Spouse.” This study is nothing to laugh at. It’s incredibly misleading, if not dishonest. The Times got their numbers from the Census Bureau’s new American Community Survey, which surveyed “117 million women over the age of 15.” Wait a minute. “Over the age of 15”? Is it really a surprise that millions of 15-20 year-olds are “living without spouse”? It shouldn’t be. In addition to several cultural factors (some of which the Times touched on), the age of consent in the United States averages just over 16 years of age. In several states, including California, it’s 18.

What else do the liberals lie about, ever wonder about that?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

The open defeatists on the Democrat side and the nuanced defeatists among “moderate” Republicans seem to think that big countries can choose to lose small wars. After all, say the “realists,” Iraq isn’t any more important to Americans than Vietnam was. But a realpolitik cynic knows the tactical price of everything and the strategic value of nothing. This is something on an entirely different scale from the 1930s: Seventy years ago, Britain and Europe could not rouse themselves to focus on a looming war; today, we can’t rouse ourselves even to focus on a war that’s happening right now. Read 100 percent of the Democratic presidential candidates’ platforms and a sizeable chunk of the Republicans’: We’re full of pseudo-energy for phantom crises and ersatz enemies, like “global warming.”-SundaySteyn

By Mid-South Philosopher

January 28, 2007 08:05 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim,

Great move by Senator Johnson and the Senate Education and Youth Committee with regard to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act.

However, if we are going to have choice, let’s have REAL choice and, how about some REAL equity.

When the legislation reaches the House, lets get it amended to the effect that ONLY those schools (public or private) that desire to offer the services germane to the bill will be compelled to do so, or lets REQUIRE all schools (public and private) to make ALL the services available to their clientele.

It is unfair to allow private schools to pick and choose which services they will provide (on our dime), while the public schools are told, “You, by-G_d, will offer all the services and be successful or else.” Let’s have an equal playing field.

Of course, you and I both know the educational elitists are not going to let that happen.

Just as those horrible “teacher unions” that you are always warning us about are hell-bent on keeping public monies prisoner to state institutions, those compassionate and caring “private” facilities are dang sure NOT going to open their doors to “Bubba” or “Bro”, especially if they have a learning impairment or behavior disorder!

By Sailor

January 28, 2007 08:34 AM | Link to this

The Sailor said Andi/e you’re a fine girl…

I see my gal Andi/e is up early today, even though she spent the night pleasuring me and my squadron.

She won’t serve in the military, but she does service the military, if you catch the Sailor’s drift… you ought to hear her sing the Star Spangled Banner with her mouthful of seamen - hilarious!

Even chickenhawks are good for something, and Andi/e’s the best!

By Zman

January 28, 2007 08:42 AM | Link to this

Just more smoke and mirrors. A carefully crafted precursor to vouchers. A segment of this population wants to send children to schools that they can control with their dollars in order to politically propagandize their offspring, thus insuring that these children never are allowed to figure it out for themselves. Lemmings want lemmings. That is the only way that certain right wingers in this country can keep from becomming an endangered species and inevitably an extinct one. Their mantra is “please don’t expose my offspring to any idea that I do not approve of or control”. That is the sole purpose of the voucher movement. Proslytize and propagandize.

By Sam

January 28, 2007 08:55 AM | Link to this

Jim, how did your “Thinking Right” blog become a magnet for every .0015er in Atlanta? Seems the lowest common denominator has found a home here.

By Right Thinking Conservative

January 28, 2007 09:01 AM | Link to this

Now why is it that everything you’ve written Mr. Wooten, will bring mostly liberals and elitists to their feet fired-up, enraged, ready to blast away over giving people not a choice but a certain type of choice?

Ask a liberal are you for giving people freedoms, liberties and choices? Automatic answer, YES!

Their real answer is yes so long as the said freedoms, liberties and CHOICES never include the following: Responsibility and accountability for choices made.

By Mid-South Philosopher

January 28, 2007 09:17 AM | Link to this

Let’s examine this issue of “choice” a little deeper.

While my posts may not always seem to indicate it, I am for “choice”!

But I favor “choice” for those who “pay the bills.” It costs, on the average, $8,500 to educate a kid in Georgia’s public schools this year. How many parents pay that much in school taxes for one kid, let alone more than one.

If we want to end “public” funding for schools and allow the parents to “choose” the education for their children that they can “afford”, then “choose” away.

Of course we are not going to do that, nor should we. However, if we are going to have “public” funding of schools, if people who have never had a child are going to be compelled by the force of government to give over some of their money to pay for the cost of educating the off-spring of fornicators or married folk, alike, then those “payers of taxes” should have some “choice” too.

If we were only talking about the “parents” tax monies, I would be in favor of vouchers in a heartbeat.

By CJ

January 28, 2007 09:26 AM | Link to this

Jim,

Your characterization of those who oppose “special needs” vouchers as a “self-interested network” who “terrorize” legislators is despicable. It’s probably true that a few who oppose vouchers are only thinking of themselves, but it’s also true that they’re a small minority. Characterizing all who oppose Johnson’s bill this way is a lie – and you know it.

Those of us who oppose vouchers are concerned that the funds provided by vouchers will not cover all costs of a private education. As a result, children from poor and low-income families will not be able to benefit. We believe that if the government is going to provide education benefits to special needs children, such benefits should go first to families who can least afford it – not families who can most afford it.

A second problem with vouchers is that when a student uses the voucher to move from one school to another, the variable costs associated with that student aren’t the only funds transferred. Overhead costs (teacher salaries, admin salaries, building maintenance expenses, etc.) are transferred as well. That means that students at the school left behind suffer because there are fewer funds available to hire more or better teachers at that school. This school also still needs funds to maintain the facilities where other students are still attending. Our public schools are already suffering from lack of funds to hire the best teachers, establish and maintain small class sizes and maintain adequate facilities. These vouchers will only exacerbate the problem.

The third problem with vouchers has to do with vesting. For the public school system to work we all have to be vested. When more and more of us send our kids to private schools, fewer and fewer people care about the quality of the public school system. The result is that more and more children get left behind.

Also, such vouchers show that you and Johnson are completely out of touch with those at the bottom of the economic ladder. Many parents in low-income households are paid by the hour, work and commute long hours, and as a result, don’t have the flexibility in their schedules to drive their kids to school or pick their kids up from school. In addition, many of these parents use public transportation and don’t have a car to take their kids to a school located in another district. If a poor family in west Cobb wants to send their child to a school in east Cobb, how do you propose that this “special needs” child gets to and from school every day?

The last problem is, as I mentioned in a previous post, is that the definition of “special needs” in this bill is broad enough to include a child with an ingrown toenail. The bill also doesn’t require a physician’s diagnosis – essentially making the voucher available to all students whose parents have the resources to take advantage of them. To me, naming this plan a “Special Needs Scholarship” demonstrates, once again, that when Republicans can’t sell an idea, they lie about it to get others to buy in (e.g. “Healthy Forests Initiative”, “Clear Skies Initiative”, “Operation Freedom).

Jim, how about actually addressing real objections to this plan instead of throwing out straw man objections (i.e. “parents aren’t smart enough to evaluate alternative schools”) and demonizing those who object? These vouchers are a bad idea, and the dishonesty used by legislators by labeling these vouchers as “Special Needs Scholarships” and used by you to demonize those who oppose it is pathetic.

By Curious Observer

January 28, 2007 09:38 AM | Link to this

Practically all of Georgia’s children are “special needs” children, but we won’t acknowledge it. They grow up with no more than one book in the household—a bible—and they mature in an anti-intellectual environment. Somehow, schools are supposed to turn them into scholars, but without the characteristics that would lead them to question common beliefs and attitudes.

Go ahead and deceive yourselves. Believe, if you want to, that a choice of private or public schools will make any difference in the educational outcomes.

While you’re at it, take the time to talk to some of the parents who want vouchers. What you will discover is that their interest is not primarily in getting the best education for their children, but rather in removing their children from the secular environment of public schools. They don’t want to run the risk that their children will be exposed to new ways of thinking or different political/religious philosophies.

I couldn’t care less about Johnson’s bill. The educational outcome for these children is foreordained, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools. A few may rise above their intellectual and cultural handicaps through sheer willpower, but most will exit the school system just as prejudiced and ignorant as their parents. A $9,000 voucher won’t make any difference.

By Silly Rabbit

January 28, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

The point everyone missed is this: Who gets the $9k? (That’s who wants this bill to pass). I want to examine the “schools” who receive the $9K. What are they “teaching”? Is their main curiculum “how to retire in Hawaii”? How to stuff $1 bills in stripper’s crotches?

Vouchers Defined: Government money going to lobbied interests in the shameful guise of helping out “special” kids.

If you want to help the special kids then make stretch limousines out of the short busses. Make them feel important. Special ganstas. Then watch them fly like eagles!

That would make the Georgia Legislature the break-wind beneath lobbied wings…. (Bette Middleschooler)

By Right Thinking Conservative

January 28, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

M-SP

Is it schools we are funding? I certainly hope not, when we should be funding the student’s education. $8,500 to educate a kid in Georgia’s public schools is it? Okay, there is the equality, the $8,500. No matter whose paying what portion I can see no way, a pay for only what me and mine use and for no others will work. Nor should it, for the very reasons we are a representative republic and not a Democracy of Wolves. Education is the great equalizer among the majority and minority this country. Education also determines the prosperity of the nation and whether the souls spoken about herein are sinners or saints all costs hidden and revealed are shared, in some manner or the other. So give the parents are legal guardians the $8,500 for each child and let them decide what is the best education for the money. Public schools may finally feel challenged to compete but the public system is miles ahead in many areas, so it is very doubtful public education even with competition will suffer collapse. Of course, public education should continue regardless for the obvious reasons, some parents are not responsible and accountable for their offspring.

By WootenDull

January 28, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

By Curious Observer January 28, 2007 09:38 AM They grow up with no more than one book in the household—a bible—and they mature in an anti-intellectual environment.

Last time I checked, the liberals were the ones silencing the debate on “evolution.”

Any legislation that weakens the power of the public education system is a win for our children. Public schools have become indoctrination centers for the left’s agenda, political brainwashing camps, which is why their students can’t read or write, why they barely know what continent they are on, why they are such intellectual dullards.

Anyone who didn’t go to public school can see that.

It’s like duh.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By silver

January 28, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

Silver has always resented the fact that Silver must pay higher property taxes while living in the Metro Altanta area, with a large part of those taxes going to support public schools in south Georgia. Silver pays over 20 mils in property taxes, while the South Georgia folks pay the minimum 4 to 6 mils only. South Georgia then claims their school system is inferior to the Metro Atlanta Schools, and demands Federal intervention, that is the taking of more of Silver’s money to pay for better South Georgia schools. Now WoodenHead wants Silver to also fund private school tuition for “disabled” students. Silver bets that half the kids at Marist will suddenly come down with a “disability” should this thieft by taking legislation pass. Silver bets the most common Marist “disability” will be Aspgergars (ap) syndrome, as it is one of the new fake “medical conditions” that are socially acceptable, ney even a badge of courage.

By silver

January 28, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Hey Silly Rabbit, easy of the 1 dollar bills in stippers crotches, Silver doesn’t want to give strippers any ideas for imporved productivity. Silver uses pennies, as they take longer to insert, and you have to get them just right to make em stick.

By silver

January 28, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

The only “special need” for the brats at Marist is for larger parking spaces for their BMW’s and Mercedes, the doors keep bumping in the parking lot. Don’t laugh, a dented BMW is a mark of shame from which a Marist “special needs” child may never recover. Why she might just call her best girlfriend on her cell phone, and tell her she is about to ram an on coming “domestic” car with her dented and disgraceful BMW in a desperate attempt to get daddy to buy her a new, un dented BMW. Daddy could really use that $9,000 voucher credit as a bigger tip for the parking lot attendent at the golf course.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

A segment of this population wants to send children to schools that they can control with their dollars in order to politically propagandize their offspring, thus insuring that these children never are allowed to figure it out for themselves

ZMAN,

You have just described the leftist cradle to grave agenda.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Rabbit aka PoFo,

I think you’ve got your species confused. You’re not a rabbit, you’re a pig.

By Reposter

January 28, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

From Saturday’s AJC letters to the editor.

Florida’s lead fails on school funds program

The story “School voucher bills ripe for debate” (Metro, Jan 23) quoted Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) as stating, ” We’re not going out on the cutting edge. This [vouchers] has been done in other states… . And Florida, our neighboring state, has a good track record.” It appears that the gentleman is completely uniformed on this topic if he thinks Florida has a record of success in this matter.

On Jan. 5, the Florida Supreme Court struck down the Florida voucher program known as the Opportunity Scholarship Program. In its ruling, the court said, “It diverts public dollars into separate private systems parallel to and in competition with the free public schools that are the sole means set out in the constitution for the state to provide for the education of Florida’s children. This diversion [vouchers] not only reduces money available to the free schools, but also funds private schools that are not ‘uniform’ when compared with each other or the public system.”

Gov. Jeb Bush did little to improve Florida’s low standing on nationally normed tests. Florida’s drop-out rate and per-pupil spending in schools continue to rank among the nation’s worst.

As Bush leaves office, the voucher movement in the “neighboring state of Florida” is in complete shambles. Georgia’s politicians and voters should do their homework before they pursue this failed policy in the upcoming session.

JON W. WILES, Villa Rica

By Silly Rabbit

January 28, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

I know, it wasn’t funny. When I re-read it, I realized that I had crossed a line of appropriateness. That’s how risky humor is. Sometimes you get lost.

Apologies all around.

By Dennis

January 28, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

Above, CJ January 28, 2007 09:26 AM, gave an excellent discussion as to why vouchers should be opposed. Unfortunately, Mr. Wooten, judging from his continued pounding on this subject, already has his mind made up.

He and I would agree on one thing, that more money for education may not always be the answer to every educational problem. However, I still challege him to show where education has ever been overly funded or for that matter even adequately funded.

But I don’t expect him or any other critic of public education to meet that challenge.

The statement, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” is not a meaningless statement. All of us benefit from public education whether we have children in public schools or not.

Those above who are opposing vouchers are seeing through the smoke screen for what it all is - smoke.

And in most cases proponents of vouchers are usually your politicians looking for a cheap way to get out of paying for what they claim they want, sound public education.

Silly Rabbit makes the case; “Vouchers Defined: Government money going to lobbied interests in the shameful guise of helping out “special” kids.”

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By silver

January 28, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Maybe Woodenhead sends his brats and grandbrats to private schools, hence his vested interest. Doesn’t Woodenhead also own a farm in rural Georgia, thus benefiting from the low rural taxes at the expense of the Metro Atlanta tax payer. Yo Woodenhead, how about a little public discloser about your vested financial interest in all this theft by taking legislation. P.S. Is there any truth to the rumors of major layoffs at the AJC due to the continueing decline in circulation? If so, Silver suggests one of the overpaid editorial staff be sent back to the farm leagues of rural georgia, where he can write to his hearts content in the local rag.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Reposter,

Google is wonderful thing. Who is John W. Wiles? Could he be the author of these books found at Amazon.com?

Here is an excerpt from a reader review of the first one:

They seem to have a strong bias for unstructured classrooms and postmodernism, even though those ideas appear to have reached their peaks and begun to decline in the real world.

There is another problem in the book, and it is most disturbing. There seems to be a radical leftist bias in parts of the book.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Wrong link - that ^^was just one book. Here’s the full link to John W. Wiles’ product at Amazon.

By Rival

January 28, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Jim loves to create these battles between long-disrespected “conservative” ideas and the entrenched powers that keep those great ideas at bay. Let the chest-thumping begin!

Most teachers would not be against this idea.

My wife is a public school teacher. She would love nothing more to get “special needs” students out of her classroom. Why? Because “special needs” is now defined as anyone with a behavior problem, or those that don’t want to learn.

What an awesome classroom my wife would have if these kids were taken to a private school to bug all the suburban conservative children and their parents.

Also, public funds for “special needs” kids are spent only on those children, so there would be no funding loss for the rest of the school if these kids left.

However, this is a horrible idea for those schools in rural counties where the nearest school is far away or in the next county; or for poor children whose parents don’t have the means to travel to private schools.

By silver

January 28, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Buy Danish, you are a joke, judging everyone and everything by their label of either leftist or rightist. Silver suspects 100 years ago you would have lived in a similar two lablel world, this one black and white. Silver bets Buy Danish would have been right at home wearing a white sheet, with a full face hood. Kinda like the internet blog sites, the hood hides your identity from your victims.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

silver,

All I need to do is look at your posts, made on January 27, 2007 to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that you are a vile, hateful individual.

In contrast to the lying garbage you post, your charge that I am a KKK racist is easily refutable. Scroll away, loser.

By Silly Rabbit

January 28, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

The thing about vouchers is….nobody vouches for them.

How can a newly created private school get accredation so that it can receive vouchers? Is there a committee? Who is watching that comittee to see if they’re being wined and dined and sent to Hawaii?

How do special needs schools recruit special needs students? Is there a form of payola? I’ll bet there is. I dont trust the system here, especially not a system for soliciting vouchers.

We need full time oversight here, cause everytime there’s government money availabe, corruption grows.

By silver

January 28, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

Racist Danish, Silver never claimed to be a humanitarian, as a world with 6.5 billion people in it does not need nor deserve any of silver’s help in growing or surviving. Silver is out for Silver, period. Silver does enjoy slapping around both lefties and righties, it gets silver in touch with silver’s inner psychopath. Silver is pleased to see the slaughter in Iraq continues, and Silver has high hopes for Iran and Syria and Israel too. America really needs to return to the draft, we could expand these wars ever so much faster with more expendable combat units (ecu’s). Bring back the Draft Now. If you love America, then support the immediate drafting of all males under the age of 26 years, for a six year military obligation! Victory or Death, on to Tehran!

By @@

January 28, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

Jim:

This option of freedom to choose needs to be given wings to fly. When the end product of government education has been proven in its’ failures, something innovative deserves to take hold.

The other day you wrote a column declaring that positive results are slow, but inevitable given patience and opportunity. I agree.

A voucher program, over time, would create a larger and more diverse marketplace of K-12 schools. It could become an industry of competition whereby individual companies and nonprofit organizations could compete for customers rather than government subsidies.

Less government and more opportunity for individuals through a market approach is always the better choice. Private companies and nonprofit organizations have a vested interest in the education of our children, because it is they who will employ, and it is they who will seek the very best.

A little less than half the children, at the private school where I work, providing education for special needs children, have their tuition paid by major corporations. They care. This bill will make no difference. They will continue to care by providing much needed, and expensive equipment to meet individual needs.

Now quit writing columns about kids Jim.

I promised not to comment here. Remember? Quit coercing me.

A quick word for “silver”. I’m not surprised that you are unfamiliar with Asperger’s Syndrome, and fail to recognize its’ debilitating effects.

(neurology) A high-function form of Autism, characterised by severe and sustained impairment in social interaction and communication. It is also characterised by restricted, repetitive, stereotyped activities, interests and routines.

Your refusal to acknowledge your condition keeps you socially marginalized, and in need of further education of the “specialized” variety.

While those children with physical or intellectual challenges are different in many ways, their hormones are in full flux and often excessive, and for their own protection, need to be discouraged.

Limousine or short-bus for you?

Looks like the short-bus is your preference. Liberalism: The haunting fear someone, somewhere, can help themselves.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

silver,

Too selfish to scroll and get some facts to back up your completely unsubstantiated and unwarranted charge that I am a “racist”?

Try again, jackass.

It’s time to watch the Australian Open. That should give you plenty of time gather the facts and issue an apology.

By silver

January 28, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Silver ain’t no stinking Asperger! Silver is a psychopath, and damned proud of it! These gawd damned catholics always want to classify Silver, while silver just wants to eat their livers with a few fava beans and a good red wine! Naughty, naughty -silver is just waiting for the situation to be right for a little romp in the kitchen with “special” ingredients. A*-berger’s my A*, its called lunch in silvers cook book.

By silver

January 28, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish, Silver does not click on your transparent little schemes. Silver says, dunk that danish in some really hot bitter coffee, chew throughly, and swollow.

By Seriously

January 28, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

Silly Rabbit, if those questions you ask had to be answered it would make it tougher for the churches to create new schools.

The churches can start building their infrastructure with this smaller version of vouchers. When the whole population is allowed vouchers it won’t overwhelm them. Small steps.

By silver

January 28, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Silver says “tax the gawd damned churches!”

By RW-(the original)

January 28, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Mid South Philosopher,

Just because we have decided as a people to pay for education through public government funds, why does that mean we have to have the government do the educating.

When the government builds a bridge with our tax dollars they set out specifications and accept bids from qualified bridge builders to do the work. They don’t go to the Federal Bridge Builders Union.

By silver

January 28, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

Wrong RW - When the gov sets out to build a bridge, they look for the largest kickbacks possible. See the half rebuilt bridge to the west of the AJC building in downtown Atlanta. The mayor of the city at the time the bridge was rebuilt is rightly serving a federal prison term for his crimes. When will Shirley be indited for her crimes? Lets get all the crooks in Atlanta city gov, Fulton county gov, the State of Georgia, and in WashingASS, DC into a Federal Prison like Gitmo. I would luv to water board shirley!

By RW-(the original)

January 28, 2007 01:10 PM | Link to this

silver,

This will be the first and last time I address you as I find you vile and disgusting.

I have a strong dislike for government being involved in so many aspects of our lives, but I also work extensively with procurement offices of Federal, State, and Local governments. The vast majority of people I deal with are good, decent, honest, and hard working people and I have never once been approached with any kind of scheme to rig a bid.

By silver

January 28, 2007 01:25 PM | Link to this

RW - Is that because you are too low on the totem pole to be bribe eligeable? Oh, wait, you are on the side that offers bribes, right. So how much did you steal on the airport jobs? Have you seen the news today about the theft and bribes of american army officers and contractors in Iraq? Your words sound like they come from a defense attorney, “my client believes the people involved are all good honest citizens caught up in an unfortunate tragedy beyond their control, and we are praying for a quick just resolution.” Save your lies for the gullible, like your ugly wife, or slut daughter (i hear she has herpes? is that true?). Now f-off before I barf a little vile onto your fat face.

By silver

January 28, 2007 01:28 PM | Link to this

YO RW - Did you work with Bill C on any Atlanta bids? Were you an un indited co conspirator? Why ain’t you in prison with your pal Bill? Did you testify against Bill in exchange for immunity? So you are a RAT, thus your initials RW - Rat Weasel?

By TW

January 28, 2007 01:41 PM | Link to this

RW - Do you know how the voucher would be handled in terms of accountability for the money - or would there be none? Could the family take the $9k, stick their kid in the basement and say they are home schooling? Also, do you think the private sector can accomodate the needs for the minimal amount of money that will comprise these special needs vouchers? And is it a valid argument for the church to worry that the voucher move will bring the government into their house? How do we, the tax payer, get accountability for our money and at the same time stay out of the private sector’s business?

By Pope rednecks - Amerikkka's Al Qaeda I

January 28, 2007 02:14 PM | Link to this

Wooten doesn’t address the fundamental problem with Georgia schools:

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT

By WootenDull

January 28, 2007 02:40 PM | Link to this

Pinko Racist - America’s Real Haters I January 28, 2007 02:14 PM Wooten doesn’t address the fundamental problem with Georgia schools:

Well, well, the little pointy hat wearing one rides through Wooten’s blog again, setting his virtual crosses alight, if it isn’t the Imperial Pooh Wizard himself.

I was wondering where all the mindless filth and vile hatred, like 1:25 for instance, was coming from in the last day or two, presto, I get my answer.

The only thing Wooten hasn’t addressed is why he continues to let your disease ridden, foul mouth disgusting supremacist a-ss puke up all the maggot infested rancid stinking rot upon his blog and it’s participant’s.

You are like a virus that Jim enjoy’s having eat away at his credibility and seriousness. I guess this is how he wants to be seen.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By GOB

January 28, 2007 02:45 PM | Link to this

Does anyone really think that if vouchers are instituted that the recipients are suddenly going to be able to send their kids to Marist, St. Pius or any of the other private schools that conservatives point to as an alternative? Those schools will simply raise their tuition to the point that the voucher is obsolete.

Nothing would change, except that the bad public schools will offer absolutely no chance for the students who are stuck there for whatever reason.

By silver

January 28, 2007 02:50 PM | Link to this

CANCEL THE F-22 PROGRAM, IT COST TOO MUCH, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD IT!

CANCEL THE JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAMS, WE CANNOT AFFORD IT!

CANCEL ALL PURCHASE OF C-130’S, THEY COST TOO MUCH, AND WE CANNOT AFFORT IT!

AMERICA HAS LOST ALL IT REMAINING WEALTH IN THE IRAQ WAR, AMERICA IS NOW BANKRUPT!

CANCEL ALL DEFENSE CONTRACTS, WE CANNOT AFFORT THEM.

By silver

January 28, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this

BUT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WILL GET RICHER! CANCEL ALL PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA, WE CANNOT AFFORT IT, WE ARE BANKRUPT!

By silver

January 28, 2007 03:06 PM | Link to this

Good work WootenDull, Silver guesses RW never heard of Reid or Haycock or any of their minions. Yo RW, you are not a Lockheed flunky by any chance now are you?

By Janine

January 28, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

Pope rednecks-AAQ Re:Garbage in Garbage out….. How is it that two students, neither of whom have a legitimate disability, can go to the same schools, yes, even be in the same classrooms and exposed to the same teachers all of their school years, and yet, one makes grades and an SAT score that get him/her to Harvard and the other has such low grades and scores below 800 on the SAT??????This happens more than often than not. I just don’t get why the school is the villain here…. SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!

By Janine

January 28, 2007 03:15 PM | Link to this

And why would anyone think that a private school would do a better job of educating special needs children, when most of private schools at the top of the achievement list do not even accept special needs children now, they have no track record with special needs students…Those private schools that do accept special needs students do not include their test scores in the schools aggregate scores.

By Janine

January 28, 2007 03:23 PM | Link to this

The achievement record of private schools look amazing , don’t they? However, I think people forget that they screen their students carefully and do not accept students who may not be high achievers….ANd if one of these students happen to get through the sieve, they do not keep them long. It’s like in everything else from cooking to cars……the best raw materials produce the best end products..

By TW

January 28, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this

Janine - because the public school system is the scapegoat for all of society’s ills - that’s why it’s such a political football. Does the succesful business chain question why its store in the lower income area does nowhere near the sales of the one in Alpharetta? Do they call this store, which follows the same formula as the others, a failing store? Of course not. The free education is there for those who want it - as long as the teacher is empowered enough to maintain a classroom climate conducive to learning.

By Janine

January 28, 2007 03:29 PM | Link to this

Private schools need to stay private …without government interfering. And if anyone thinks that if the government is giving voucher money to private schools they aren’t going to want control——-well, it’s about that swamp land in Fla.I’d like to sell you.

By Mid-South Philosopher

January 28, 2007 03:42 PM | Link to this

To Thinking Right Conservative,

I have been away from the board for a while.

I think you and I may be more in agreement than it seems.

Of course, society has the responsibility of “sailing the ship of education” for the young of the community. While I agree that the parent should be the “rudder” in the voyage, that authority should not extend to the detriment of and at the expense of everyone else in the community.

If one copulates and produces off-spring and “chooses” to have the off-spring to be educated by the society at-large (aka: the public schools)one gives up a major portion of autonomy and one is assinine to think that the society should pay you (i.e., a voucher) for your procreation.

If the members of the Georgia General Assembly would sober up they might come up with some really innovative ways to “hold parents accountable” instead of “assaulting” the teaching profession (prime example of frailty that it is) all of the time. But no, they are too bent upon catering to the prejudices and bigotry of their constituents in order to gain re-election. They would do well to remember that it was NOT the “flaggers” who sent Roy Barnes back to “selling apples in Austell.” His arrogant and dismissive attitude toward school teachers made him the “has been” he so richly deserves to be.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 03:56 PM | Link to this

If one copulates and produces off-spring and “chooses” to have the off-spring to be educated by the society at-large (aka: the public schools)one gives up a major portion of autonomy and one is assinine to think that the society should pay you (i.e., a voucher) for your procreation.

Mid-south,

That is such a crude and assinine argument I hardly know where to begin.

Let’s keep it simple - vouchers are not “paying you for your procreation”.

If you are a teacher, you’re not doing a very good job of instilling confidence in your profession by making fatuous statements like that.

By jm

January 28, 2007 04:06 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, for all his talk about the free market, supply and demand, etc., seems to continuously overlook one area when talking about education and that is teacher salaries. Last I checked, altruism does not pay bills. If you want to get a large pool of good, dedicated people into the teaching field, crack open the checkbook. Of course, that might mean raising taxes and since taxes are deemed to be evil, this cannot be done. So education will continue on the cheap and people will continue to complain about it.

By Mid-South Philosopher

January 28, 2007 04:06 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

The “truth” is a bitter pill.

The vast majority of parents want the schools to do it all; “don’t bother me”, “you’re being paid to handle this”, “get’er done!” However; when the difficulties arise, they want “choice”, which, in actuality, means “special accommodations” for “my child.”

Public schools should be just that…public…for the greatest good of the greatest number.

It is not ideal, but it is democratic.

The “idiocy of the teaching profession” lies in the fact they they have “attempted to do it all.”

By Pope rednecks - Amerikkka's Al Qaeda I

January 28, 2007 04:22 PM | Link to this

Greetings, to decent Georgians and the rednekkk slobs of the Woo-ten KKKlan, it is We the Pope, greeting you today from the snowy environs of northern Vermont.

The Pope is struck by the cleanliness of the average Vermonter, especially when We compare it to the sloven decrepitude and just plain filthiness of the typical Georgian… obesity is seeminlgy non-existent in Vermont in comparison to Georgia.

Did you know that the high school dropout rate in Vermont is less than half the high school dropout rate of Georgia’s?

Well now you know, you stupid rednekkks!

By Silly Rabbit

January 28, 2007 04:37 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish is still here blogging? Still? On a Sunday? What a stupifying waste of a human being.

And I think it’s a damn shame.

By Seriously

January 28, 2007 04:39 PM | Link to this

How do they do that in Vermont? They don’t have “special needs” vouchers.

I bet Georgia could kick Vermont’s butt in high school football.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

Mid-South,

First of all, I was taking issue with your statement that “vouchers are paying you for procreation”. That is asinine.

Secondly, the public schools cannot do it all and that is where vouchers come in. The “greatest good” argument leaves an awful lot of “procreated” children in the dust - both the ones who cannot get the services they need at the one size/fits all schools AND the entire student body who suffer because so much effort and money is expended towards “special” students the schools are incapable of serving.

In short “the greater good” is not being met by refusing vouchers.

By Dusty

January 28, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

Mid-South,

You have posted Public schools should be just that…public…for the greatest good of the greatest number.

That sounds like somebody is going to get left out. Isn’t it an American principle that every child should be offered an education and not how or who got them here?

I can also remember the ongoing thought about students with disabilities was that they are better off “mainlined” in schools with “regular” students.

Also,that “regular” students learned a lot about disabilites. I do believe that thought has changed as we have here the discussion of money for parents to use most likely at special schools.

By Midori

January 28, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

It’s great seeing Andy ignored, as he should be.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, indeed.

By Dennis

January 28, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

Why is it so difficult to get it through the heads of those screaming for private schools and vouchers that education cannot be run on a factory business model and that students are not an assembly line product?

A manufacturing business uses only the best materials if it expects to produce a good product. Our public schools are not that fortunate.

The raw materials needing to be educated come in all shapes, sizes, qualities and needs, but not all of the needs of all of the students can be met under the outdated conditions that have existed in our public schools for years and years.

It is a fool’s fallacy that all that is needed is to create competition between schools or to privatize public education and everything will be “hunka dorey”.

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this

Dennis Dahreese,

It is exactly because schools cannot be run as a factory that we need vouchers.

By WootenDull

January 28, 2007 05:03 PM | Link to this

By Midori January 28, 2007 04:48 PM It’s great seeing WootenDull ignored, as he should be.

Hey Midori, don’t you wish you could “ignore” me too?

I guess this must mean that you agree with Little Red Riding Racist that pure as the driven snow white Vermont is so much better than trashy old Georgia, eh?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By Silly Rabbit

January 28, 2007 05:15 PM | Link to this

I remember an experience I had as a child with a special needs child. We were living in Waco Texas, and I was eleven years old. It was christmas time and my brothers and sisters and I were at a christmas party with my parents. We were in one of the bedrooms, just sitting on the beds talking to the siblings of another family when in walks this naked boy about thirteen, fully matured. His sister exclaimed, “BOBBY!”, with an incredulous scold. We turned and looked and we all had this moment of awareness about life and the universe and god and the devil and divorce lawyers and sin and skin and then the naked boy finally just left the room, (after his sister finally recovered and badgered him to go). We then returned to our conversation and formality, and the rest of the evening went as it would have if the naked boy had never showed up. I remember thinking that I was glad the kid was special because suddenly I understood how things could have gotten out of control quickly if he wasnt special.

Funny thing. The boy looked normal is all aspects. He was just socially unaware. We didn’t tell our parents. Somehow we knew there was no where to go with it.

You grow up episodically and isn’t life wonderful?

By B. Moore

January 28, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

Liberalism of today is not grounded in the libertarian belief of yesteryear. Today’s liberalism holds firm to the belief that the tendencies of social evolution shown to work in the past will continue on into the future. Any effort to change or even stop the forward trend, will be seen as doomed to failure.

These doctrines would be the same as those put forth by Marx. They could just as easily be the doctrines of antivoucherites. They can offer no solutions absent government intervention. They’re left helpless to stop the trend toward greater government power and control, however destructive it has been proven to be.

This results in a paralysis of the individual. Those opposing voucers are afraid to dismantle the government schools because any such action can’t work in their mind. You’re right where the government has lead you.

Socialism was intended to rob a society of its’ entrepeneurial spirit, leaving a people subjected to their (the government’s) chosen indoctrination.

By Dennis

January 28, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

By Buy Danish , January 28, 2007 04:59 PM Dennis Dahreese, It is exactly because schools cannot be run as a factory that we need vouchers.

OK. How’s it going to work? Who gets the vouchers and who decides who gets the vouchers and on what criteria does a family or student get a voucher? On what criteria will a voucher be denied?

And then, what? If you’re financially expecting to get out any cheaper than you already are, I don’t think so….

But, I’m listening.

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Dusty

January 28, 2007 05:30 PM | Link to this

Well, it is almost dinner time.

I am glad the state is discussing students with special needs and public education. Certainly we want the best education for all of them.

My children have moved on into “higher” education. Thank goodness for all the universities around Atlanta. If you have ever paid out-of-state tuition as we have for one in our large family, you would know what I mean. Very expensive.

President Bush tried to improve schools with his program and it has been much criticized. This plan for funds for special needs chldren will also be greatly discussed and criticized as we see here. That’s good. We can hope for the best outcome for the education of all children.

By silver

January 28, 2007 05:31 PM | Link to this

OH YEAH, FIRE THE ARMY, WE CAN’T AFFORD THOSE LOAFFERS ANYMORE.

By Buy Danish

January 28, 2007 05:36 PM | Link to this

Dennis,

For starters it’s what is outlined in Wooten’s story^^^^upstairs.

How’s this - don’t deny them to anyone who wants them.

What are you so afraid of?

By WootenDull

January 28, 2007 05:36 PM | Link to this

LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas church suspended a Catholic priest Sunday as police continued their search for the clergyman, who allegedly sexually assaulted and struck a woman at the church.-Fox “News”

A sexual assault in Las Vegas!

No way!

That has to be a first, right?

Why else would it be on the front page of “right” wing Fox “News” national website?

Gee, I wonder if there’s so much pinko media attention because the guy is a Priest, gosh, I wonder.

A substitute teacher accused of molesting two boys confessed to police that he assaulted one of the victims, according to newly released court records.-Las Vegas Review Journal

Anybody want to bet that this story didn’t make into Fox “News” national edition?

Which crime do you think is more heinous?

Slander the Church, ignore the teachers, pinko media standard procedures.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

By silver

January 28, 2007 05:36 PM | Link to this

How about we buy each kid a set of recommended books each year, tell them to read the books from cover to cover, and at the end of each chapter, there will be an online test, plus one at the end of the book? Now someone has to teach the brats to read first, but after that, they are to be home schooled, and tested over the internet. Learn or not learn, it is their choice, but at least the yellow loser buses will not be in my way, I will not have to pay for the stupid education majors passing themselves off as educators, and all those damned buildings and sports areana’s can be sold, and I will not have to pay for their up keep. Just another imporvement for the human race by the great Silver, non humanitarian.

By silver

January 28, 2007 05:40 PM | Link to this

Silver says fire all those lesbian teachers over in Cobb and Gwinnette, they are ruining too many potential hot babes. Silver is just thinking of the future, some hot young babe has to dance on those poles and collect my pennies, and I don’t wanna watch d** fake it, or 30 something now destitude former soccer moms. Silver wants the 20 something hot babes wrapped around that pole.

By RW-(the original)

January 28, 2007 05:40 PM | Link to this

Dennis,

Apparently George Kennan quit be listened to in about 1949 and even though his writings are very contradictory we seem to operating foreign policy more differently than alike in his policy paper you referred to yesterday as our foreign policy.

If you have a minute would you nail down just what your complaint is? Thanks.

WootenDull,

Thanks for the link to more of Harry Reid’s corruption. Is that empty desert land the place he had a bridge built that seemed to go to from Nevada to nowhere?

By Silly Rabbit

January 29, 2007 08:34 AM | Link to this

Ominous news from Iraq. Private US mercenary/militia could threaten our country with a coup. What can possibly stop them when in fact they are the guiding hand behind the president, providing money and ideas and resources like some tasmanian CIA/FBI Big Brother/OnlytheShadowKnows superpower within a superpower.

I demand we disband all private mercenary companies and para-military contractors/snipers4hire now. (camera to sniper zeroing in on me and barely audible is the command “fire at will”. Sniper pulls trigger, sound of 50 calibre bullet striking me. Good thing he missed. Camera to me drinking a glass of water and niagra falls happens out of my stomach)

This is ridiculous, and now I am certain that W/Cheney is a traitor to this country. I demand their resignation.

It’s probably too late to save ourselves, but if there is a window of time available to rid ourselves of these neo-demons, it is a very short window.

These Bush mercenaries operating in Iraq are like the witch’s flying monkey corps in Oz. They operate outside the army and are not constrained by any human conscience or forbearance. (or constitution). and they cant be court-martialed.

I think it’s over for us. I had no idea how entrenched into our executive branch these private mercenary companies are until I read today’s paper about Blackwater USA. Have they become a defacto fourth branch of our government? Modern day Untouchables?

By Old Physics Teacher

January 29, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

“…the school superintendents, school board members, tea