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Dear Dick Yarbrough: Thanks for writing on this topic of school vouchers as it is a front issue in the upcoming elections. Christians want to escape the bad influence of government propaganda, and the poor population sees it as their only way to save their kids and get them out of failing schools.
They have voiced that vouchers are a civil right, or that not having vouchers is one more way people keep us from achieving, and it is discrimination. The rich have a choice and the poor do not have school choice. I agree with both views, even though we have many talented professionals in public schools. And you're right; teachers should be listened to above administrators.
As for me, I am so tired of watching Georgia's poor schools doing badly. You mentioned Saxon Heights and its success. Unfortunately, this is too few and far between. And we need to force change by giving vouchers or nothing will ever change and kids will keep suffering in bad schools.
Hall County has great folks working for them but their scores were low on CRCT tests. Year after year, no one is held accountable. Those in charge just claim we need more tax dollars and then try to distract us by claiming they are doing "this program" and this "new class" when we want the basics taught.
Private schools find what works and use it to help failing kids. Saturday school for failing students has proven over and over again to be the best deterrent for failing grades, yet public schools refuse to make kids make up work on Saturday mornings. Mandatory Saturday morning class has shown to work right away when kids realize they have no choice and don't want to sacrifice their sleep-in time.
I just received several e-mails from Christian friends who will not vote for a candidate who objects to vouchers. The voucher issue will affect the next election. You have the parents from failing schools and Christians in agreement, and they vote in large numbers.
So please write one more time on this issue as what you said in your column was encouraging and educational. Taxpayers are not in the mood to pay higher taxes because they don't believe our government schools can do the job and too many kids are being hurt.
Lynn Everitt
Oakwood