HB123(Parent and Teacher Empowerment Act)

The Teaching Firm
Much of the "education reform" talk we hear today gets discussed with the tacit assumption of pitting one group against another. The framework often boils down to parents wanting a better education for their children versus teachers who baulk at increased accountability measures that judge the quality of their teaching and represent a threat to their job security and growth. I reject this paradigm.

Parents and teachers should unite behind the idea that they aren't on opposite sides. Parents, children and teachers are pawns on the chessboard of educational bureaucrats. What's the alternative? Well, lawyers work at law firms, CPAs work at accounting firms and they manage themselves. Teachers should work at teaching firms and be expected to do the same.

HB123(Parent and Teacher Empowerment Act)
Unfortunately, HB123 did not make it out of the Senate Education Committee. Recall that it did make it out of the House. It is disappointing that the Senate would not embrace this bill, empowering parents and teachers, as the House had done. I would like to commend Rep. Lindsey (R-Atlanta, District 54) for his leadership on this issue. Thank you, Rep. Lindsey, for your commitment to Georgia's children, parents and teachers.

Real-time Blog
Thanks to everyone who blogged or watched the real-time blogging I hosted this week. I would like to host other interactive blogs to discuss various issues. Drop me an email with any topic suggestions.


Interesting link: Read this article from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).


--Nancy