I attended a joint meeting of the Accomack and Northampton county Democatic Committees that was attended by State Senator Ralph Northam, Delegate Lynwood Lewis, and Candidate for Lt. Governor Jody Wagner in Nassawadox. Their website has some excerpts from that meeting. I’ve added a link to their site on my blog as well.
As far as their not being in support of off-shore drilling goes; I will say this — I don’t want to lose one single JOB from the Navy or NASA nor do I want any pollution added to our waters. I want all those jobs and the money they bring to the Eastern Shore AND I want every dollar and every JOB that off-shore drilling might bring. Don’t just say ‘NO’ to a concept that you haven’t taken the time to explore. The answer to breaking America’s dependence on foreign oil could start right here in Virginia. The royalties that we could enjoy might be the difference between being able to offer our students the best schools in the union and our residents income that they could use to buy the best health care in the country. That is, if we take advantage of that possibility.
“In response to questions from local radio show host Melody Scalley about offshore oil drilling, both Lewis and Northam strongly declared their opposition to drilling, citing it’s potential for environmental and aquaculture industry disruption as well as the problems that it would cause for NASA operations and expansion. Lewis also gave a spirited defense of the American public school system in response to her support of school vouchers.”
What they did not mention was that Del. Lewis went on to say that ‘while he had the opportunity to attend private school he would not want to undermine the public school system by allowing school vouchers’. The topic of improving education had first been raised by one of his own constituents, mine was a follow up question to that. My response was that although “he had that opportunity (to attend private school because his family had the means to send him) he would not allow his constituents to have that same opportunity?” He repeated that he would not want to ‘undermine the public schools’.
You have to understand, it’s not about supporting or undermining PUBLIC SCHOOLS it is providing for PUBLIC EDUCATION the means for which (the money) should follow the student to the school of THEIR choice and NOT the government monoply of schools that the government chooses to provide. School vouchers (or tax credits) would allow for a greater diversity in education, the end result of which would be to provide a BETTER PUBLIC EDUCATION for ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. Not just the ones whose parents have the means to send them to a private school or move to a better neighborhood where the better government run schools are located.
Just consider for a moment why America is known for a competitive and excellent higher education system (post-secondary) while at the same time being known for a declining elementary and high school system? When we consider international comparisons; our primary education system does not score well. The education provided in most developed countries outperform The United States, especially at high school level.
So again, why do you think that is, exactly? Why do most colleges and universities offer a far superior education than our primary schools?
It is because most of our colleges and universities are PRIVATELY OWNED and they COMPETE with the public colleges. The result is that they ALL offer a better education. The same principal should be used in our primary school system. The money should follow the kids to the school of their parents’ choice.
Competition in the market place results in the best service at the lowest price with the best selection. If your child has an aptitude for science why should they attend a school whose best teacher is in the art class? If your student excels in computer science why should they attend a school that has an emphasis on shop. If your child is a special needs student that would benefit by attending a school that focuses on addressing those needs; wouldn’t you rather have the option of sending your child to a school that places an emphasis on teaching your special needs child?
Government is not the answer, it is part of the problem.
melody scalley
