Unions, Parents and Schools

Here we go again with the tail wagging the dog.

An organization with no logical reason for involvement in the upcoming Wake County School Board elections is attempting to influence the outcome. With money and opinions.

A national labor union. Interesting. Fresh. And illogical.

Money has flowed from out of town bank accounts for decades to those seeking public office. Yet, there are over 100 public school systems counties in North Carolina! Some school systems are merged and others (like Orange County) have 2: Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County.

So why Wake County?

If a national labor union is concerned about the education of North Carolina public school children, why aren’t they assisting low wealth counties like Halifax? Hertford? Bertie? Areas where the NC Department of Public Instruction and state leaders still fail to provide an equal education?

Why indeed! Why would a national union attempt to influence a district-wide election? Is their goal to situate themselves prior to next year’s larger elections? Or to increase their membership?

Next year, 2010, every Congressional House Representative's seat will be on the ballot. Incumbents are likely to run again and will be challenged in most districts. One US Senate seat will be on the ballot. Rounding out the ballot will be a few local Wake county elections.

A matter for next year.

This year, 2009, however, voters will not be fooled. More voters are now studying each race and candidate for themselves. The economy has shaken the very foundation of every American home.

Voters, especially the unemployed, may no longer heed the advice or endorsement of a paid poll worker or organization who 'know's what's best'. Endorsements must be backed up with facts. I've received calls each year from persons wanting to know who they should vote for. I've always declined.

Some of my friends used to listen to certain church officials. They too now realize that neither they nor their family has necessarily benefited from these 'opinions'. Voter (parents especially) are aware of the war on Wake County Schools. What they may not realize, yet, it that it was not started by a small group of angry parents.

It was a war started with those with the greatest war chests: a certain local newspaper, a few current and former Wake County school board members, school system staff, and the Wake Education Partnership.

Even the Concerned Citizens group that purportedly assists African American children has quieted down. Realizing, perhaps, that they were imperiled by consistently parroting the school system's verbiage.

Or quieted because certain 'stakeholders' have successfully retained their jobs.

WakeEd, with its 501(c) 3 and IRS standing now being scrutinized, has put together an impressive array of community ‘leaders’ and elected officials. But what is their current and future goals?

Perhaps that was the lure of membership. Visibility, with no work required. Appearance. Looks great to see their name shared on the same list as Raleigh, Cary and Wake County's high dollar stakeholders. A real Who’s Who. Yet, the list changes at the stroke of a pen. One name added, another removed.

And another way to sway dialogue away from a fruitful discussion on the educational needs of all children. And their future. Children who don't deserve to be pawns in a game where the rules change daily.

With little to no input allowed by parents or guardians.

That's the issue. Parental input. The matter that is being challenged. And why the direction of the Wake County Public School system, via the Board of Education, must be changed. By electing Chris Malone, Debra Goldman, John Tedesco and Deborah Prickett.

Candidates with experience and knowledge. Who care about children. And who understand that for REAL change, we MUST upset the apple cart.