Submitted by Sue O’Connor of Oakhurst, CA
Election time again! This is the time that you get to vote for the person that most closely represents your values and priorities. The hardest part is knowing whether a candidate represents your values and priorities, and not everybody does their homework.
I’ve done my homework, and I would like to share my opinions with you. My opinions may not sway a single voter, but may encourage voters to do their own research. Specifically, my opinions will be related to our local school board races.
I served on the Coarsegold School Board for 6 years. I valued the different perspectives each member presented at the board table. I believe in my heart that deliberation and debate create stronger policies that best reflect the needs of the students, parents, and community. A good board member supports teachers, but is not there to represent the teachers, because they have a very strong union that represents them. In fact, the California Teachers Association ( CTA) exerts a TREMENDOUS amount of influence in the classroom, and in the Capitol.
It may be popular to say “Partisan politics have no place in public education or on the school board”, but in the state of California that is simply not reality. Partisan politics are all over education from the top office in Sacramento, to the CTA, and in our local school boards.
There are many hot button, divisive topics in our local schools. Personal values are at the heart of the divisions. Personal political views will influence the way a board member votes on policies related to curriculum, student discipline, and parental notification, plus a host of other issues.
I care about the political positions of school board candidates, because it is a central part of what they will bring to the table.
I am not in agreement with the ruling majority in Sacramento. The 30 year Democrat majority in our state can take full credit for the fact that California schools rank in the bottom 10 out of 50 states, in bullying, students getting into college, and student safety.
I believe the State, and the CTA ,have interjected themselves into family matters in destructive ways, and have fostered distrust between parents and teachers. The state continues to promote the philosophy of “Children First”, while portraying parents as untrustworthy, and even dangerous, towards their own child’s well being.
I believe that, in general, parents are the best advocates for their children’s mental health and education. Parents should be informed about any, and every, factor of their children’s education in our public schools, because they are the primary caregiver and they love their children.
Therefore, I support:
Bill Atwood for YUSD -4
John Stier BLJUSD – 3
Charles (Charley) Brady BLJUSD – 5
I believe they represent my values related to our need to focus on academic excellence in curriculum, effective discipline policies to protect our students from violence and bullying, and preserving parental rights to the fullest extent of the law.
