Sen. Chance: Understand that you may have supported the original Senate Bill 458. Very disappointed in your decision, if that was the case.

We have some very major education problems in the country today regarding our public schools.

Dropout rates continue to rise; businesses are having to look elsewhere for qualified/skilled workers (AT&T being the latest); indiscipline appears to be on the rise in many systems, and appears to be going unchecked; military services are finding that less than three out of 10 young men — ages 17-24 — meet basic qualifications for military service; and test scores continue to either drop, or remain essentially the same.

We continue to fall further and further behind other industrialized countries.

What is most disturbing, Sen. Chance, is that there appears to be a total failure to recognize this country and state has a problem. Clayton County is merely a symptom.

Merely shifting the problem to other counties (such as Fayette) is a non-starter, and I must hasten to add, is a very sophomoric approach, lacking an understanding and appreciation that should prevail in the state Senate.

I hope that I was misled by your original position, and more importantly, hope that you and your colleagues will set about to develop some innovative and effective delivery systems for 52,000 kids who need an education.

Can you imagine the economic impact this will have if Clayton County is not fixed? Sadly, I would not doubt if we don’t have other counties in the state that have similar problems, but they are not close to Atlanta.

Hope we are wrong regarding your initial position. Would welcome your comments.

Jack C. Wheeler

Fayetteville, Ga.

login to post comments