To whom it may concern,
Lawmakers say they want to come together to give county school systems and educators more flexibility in their job. They have said they want to empower teachers and administrators. Unfortunately, the only steps that are being taken in this current legislative session seem contradictory.
Politicians in Charleston are working to repeal education standards developed by West Virginian educators. They’re not working to provide adequate replacements, instead they are borrowing from other states. Government officials are spending more time worrying about micromanaging teachers and less time developing ways to provide them with the tools and environment needed to produce success. Decent pay raises are once again being pushed to the sidelines in favor of toying with unnecessary education reform.
I agree with the Governor Justice, we could make West Virginia an education mecca, but we really must start listening to and respecting our teachers – they’re the professionals, after all. Right now, that isn’t happening. In fact, efforts to ensure the state and federal departments of education give local school officials more control have put legislators on a path to restrict educators.
I have a problem with all of this. Education is not a partisan issue, it is a humanities issue. People have the constitutional right to learn. The state’s prerogative should invest in educators, their professional development, and the facilities they work in. The people produced out of an education system held to standards such as this will become West Virginia’s return on its investment. Otherwise, the state risks exporting yet another generation of great people because representatives could not be troubled to swallow their pride, respect the situation, and do what is best for everyone.
Please, leave things like education standards be and put West Virginia on the right path to correct these issues for the long-term.
Nellie Davis
Thomas, WV
