How can we, the benefactors and stakeholders of the public school system, allow, without challenge, the charter school bill recently approved by the House Ways and Means Committee to serve as an improved metaphor for the public school system? Especially, how can we allow this in the face of the admission that charter schools are taxpayer-funded schools that would operate outside the regulations that most public schools must follow.
If we think back and thoroughly about the charter school issue, how can we not realize and admit that charter schools fly in the face of the spirit and conscience of an already addressed Supreme Court decision, Brown v. the Topeka Board of Education?
Lest we forget, consider also the fact that there is great need to be concerned about judges who may tend to become overly active outside their arena. We must also be aware and not ignore these same overreaching activities by lawmakers who often present deceptively to gain personal control. (This act is commonplace.)
Let us be reminded that once in a while things presented as metaphors may be allegories, and no matter what the intent is, a misunderstood allegory could actually lead to public school system retrogression. Let’s not be deceived.
Let us not sleep while we should be thinking.
Richard D. Edwards
Gadsden
