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January 29, 2007

Was ist Das?!?

From this morning's AJC, it looks like Sonny and da boys are going after yet ANOTHER program to improve education in GA. Now it is foreign language programs. The thing that got me most, I think, was the hypocrisy displayed by Glenn Richardson.

House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) has been a supporter of the pilot program in the past. However, Richardson said he's not sure how important it is to teach foreign language in elementary school.

"I had a child that had that, and I don't know it particularly helped him one way or the other," he said. "I would listen to the experts as to why we're doing it.

"I think it's probably more important that we get them to read the English language and do math and social studies."

Some days the Repugs just make it TOO easy for us to point out their foibles. And they called John Kerry a flip-flopper. Richardson displays the absolute worst characteristics of "the other side" (ie. "I got mine, now let's let nobody else get theirs"). Argue the merits of the program all you want...this is most definitely a blow to improving education in this state.

Posted by Peter at January 29, 2007 07:13 AM

Comments

*ahem* ... B'GAAAWWWK!

Oh yeah, it's on! (No, not like, I have it on *now*, I mean *it's* on, like, bring it, the fight. You know.)

Posted by: shelby [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 08:38 AM

And of course the inbred hicks (just talking about Repubs here, don't get too antsy) don't care that elementary school is probably a much better place to teach foreign languages than high school. Conventional wisdom seems to have been that earlier is better for learning languages, with adults struggling to do so.

But, who needs to talk them dern forrenurs anyways. Math and reading's all ya need fur an edukation.

Posted by: odinseye2k [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 11:36 AM

I actually think the Governor has a point, this type of program should be in all Georgia schools not just a handful. However, he shows an absolute lack of political courage in proposing that we just spread the money out (which will kill every program equally) instead of boosting funding for this program to schools that don't currently have it.

How much money do we spend wooing foreign corporations to Georgia each year? With tax breaks and everything else it has to be WELL in excess of $85 million. Just imagine the payback for state government years from now if even only a handful of kids who learn a foreign language then bring back business to the state of Georgia when they enter the world of commerce.

Conservatives like Perdue are always talking about running state government like a business, the problem is I can't think of any business that would pass up an investment opportunity such as this.

Posted by: chris [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 11:54 AM

MARYSON.

Posted by: indie_rock_elitist [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 11:56 AM

MARYSON perhaps?

Posted by: indie_rock_elitist [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 11:56 AM

just for effect MARYSON

Posted by: indie_rock_elitist [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 12:18 PM

So we can spend how much on a PR campaign to bring in fishermen, but we can't put money into education where you will actually see a benefit? I swear, living in GA is like living in Bizarro World.

Posted by: Rubyduby [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 01:38 PM

From what I understand, this was a pilot program that was initiated years ago in only a few schools. No one ever came up with the dough to initiate the program statewide, but they have continued the program in these schools only. One of these schools is an elementary school in Dunwoody, which teaches German (god forbid they would teach a useful language). Every few years the program is threatened, but our local Dunwoody politicians always manage to find funding for the the program. They will fight tooth and nail to keep a special taxpayer-funded benefit for their school only, but don't want to pay to expand it to anyone else's schools.

Posted by: Keith [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 29, 2007 01:54 PM

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