LETTER TO THE EDITOR REGARDING CHRISTIE CANDIDACY:
Dear
Editor:
Most citizens do not understand
the makeup of the governance for public schools.
There are seven local school board members who, although elected by position, are
elected at large, which means they are supposed to represent the interests of everyone in
the school district.
At the state level, State Board
of Education representatives are elected by district, of which there are fifteen.
The SBOE representatives, while caring about all students in Texas, ultimately are
responsible for representing the interests of their districts and their constituents.
After observing for many years
the votes and actions of the District 6 incumbent, Jack Christie, I believe that he does
not represent those of us who have elected him.
As a Katy ISD school board member, I can say that he has never consulted with me or
our Board as a group about any school related matter. He evidently does not care what we,
his constituents, think about educational issues.
Last summer Christie voted
against the other Republicans to allow the State of Texas to accept Goals 2000 funding.
Most people do not understand that this money from the federal government has
strings attached which dictate the curriculum that our children receive. Christie
understands, though, and it is his intent to bring the federal government and/or its
philosophies into the lives of our children. While he will say that he does not want this
encroachment by the federal government, his votes say otherwise.
Christie has voted, along with
Commissioner of Education Mike Moses, to allow the Maxwell case to move forward on appeal, and
he could have stopped that initiative if he had wanted.
The Maxwell case, currently in limbo
while the judge makes up his mind, is a test case which seeks to cause parents to give up
their rights (with regard to the education of their children) to the State.
In a recent meeting of the State
Board of Education’s Long Range Plan Committee, (of which I have a tape recording)
Christie advocates the “school-to-work” initiative suggesting that we no longer
need “Shakespearean degrees” because even “PhD’s holding them cannot get a job.”
Christie has traveled to Germany to observe their education system at least twice
this year. One has to wonder what possibly can
be of value educationally that Texas would wish to emulate in a country that has depended
upon ours to sustain itself ever since World War II!
The German educational system does advocate tracking students as early as the
fourth grade into a vocational track. Could this tracking be the focus of Christie’s
interest?
At the Long Range Plan committee
meeting recently Christie suggests that 80% of our school children will be needed to work “in
industry” as laborers by the year 2000. One
also has to wonder if these same children will have to relocate to Mexico in order to find
these jobs! He also suggests that “phonics is
too narrow” an approach to the teaching of reading.
Christie is unable to understand
the concept of educating academically our students so that upon graduation (from high
school or college) they may then enter the work force at the level where they are capable
and not where someone decides for them at the age of ten.
Although Christie states that he has voted against the Republican point of view
only once, he voted this one day, nine times out of twelve against the Republicans on the
committee!
Where does Christie’s point of
view and advocacy leave the children of his district? Can anyone believe that Christie
cares about an academic education for their children? Do I know any parents of first
graders who believe that public schools’ first priority is to prepare their children to
become laborers? I don’t believe that I do!
Do I know any parents who want their children tracked into a vocational track as
soon as it becomes obvious that they are not “A” students?
I don’t believe that I do! But if Christie continues his designs for a work force
instead of an academically educated populace; if Christie continues to manipulate the
composition of committees so that his point of view cannot be challenged; if Christie
continues to embrace re-structuring initiatives coming from the federal government’s
effort to dumb down our children instead of what makes sense for those who elected him,
then we have no one to blame but ourselves. As
voters, as concerned parents, each of you need
to understand this man’s record.
Christie may call himself a
conservative Republican, but he does not act or vote like a Republican.
The only real Republican who is running in this primary election is Terri Leo.
Mrs. Leo is an educator who has a Bachelor’s degree in special education and
elementary education and a Master’s degree in educational administration with experience
as a teacher.
Leo is
making the speaker rounds and pulls no punches about
her agenda. She wholeheartedly supports
an academic education for all children. She
was the only one in this race to advocate phonics until Mr. Christie saw the overwhelming
support she was receiving on this issue. He then took her agenda as his own!
I believe Mrs. Leo will best represent the people of this district. She deserves
your attention and your vote.
Sincerely,
Mary McGarr