I write to you today as a strong believer in parents’ rights when it comes to a child’s education, and as someone who thinks Senate Bill 458 is the dumbest legislation ever to come to the floor.

In even considering this bill you are, in essence, saying, “You want school choice? Easy! Just move to a failing and incompetent school district. When you do, we’ll give you vouchers to go to private school, public school, whatever you want! As for those folks who live in neighboring counties, who pay extra taxes to keep the schools at the top of the performance charts ... well, they’ll get over it.”

Clayton County parents want to send their kids to Fayette County schools: I can’t say that I blame them. I would love to send my children to Woodward Academy or Heritage Christian. But there’s that niggling little tuition problem.

So, my wife and I did the next-best thing and moved to an area with higher local taxes, because the schools were better.

Penalizing our decision while rewarding incompetence will lead to a backlash that makes the old stars-and-bars flag controversy look like Romper Room.

Do the right thing: Go back to the drawing board on this one. And while you’re at it, a “sorry, our bad” would be nice.

Steve Eubanks

Peachtree City, Ga.

login to post comments