Sunday, October 16, 2011

We Shall Overcome Some Day

I just watched the dedication of the Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC. Having come of age during the era of the civil rights struggle, this beautiful program touched my heart.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Charter Schools....?

I enjoyed hearing Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Kid's Zone speak recently at an event sponsored by The Village of Promise. He is so passionate that all kids can make it with the proper support and encouragement. His schools are charter schools in New York City. I have followed the charter school movement nationally for many years and am a firm believer in charters potential to allow great educators to be able to do what they need to do to really educate our kids. Alabama is one of the only states to be adamantly opposed to even trying this idea. That is a sad thing for students in our state. A new charter bill has now passed the House and is heading to the Senate (HR2218) which makes it even more appealing to states to give charters a try. I can only hope that people like staate Rep. Phil Williams will again continue to push for this in the Ala legislature and that Govenor Bentley will get on board and try to break the AEA's oppositional hold on our state on this important issue.