Está en la página 1de 4

Berkeley Hawks

Mr. Van Wyk


Adv. Composition
4 November 2016
Amendment 1 Paradox
Conservatives = limited government, free market. Liberals =
government action, equality. Republican Governor Nathan Deal proposes
the establish[ment of] state control over local school systems and
local school funds (Leftwhich). This will create an Opportunity
School District (OSD), modeled off successful programs in Louisiana
and Tennessee. The OSD program put forward in Amendment 1 shifts local
education jurisdiction to the state level. However, conservatives in
Georgia adamantly support Amendment 1 and liberals vehemently oppose
it.
Why the reversal?
Conservatives, who usually oppose federal involvement in state
government, find themselves supporting Amendment 1; which mandates
state interference in local governments. Local school systems struggle
to allocate funds appropriately and they know what works for the
community. Local school boards know the teachers, know the successful
programs, know the state-winning sport teams. How does the state
expect to successfully appropriate school funding without that same
level of knowledge? State control over these funds removes local
relationships that conservatives typically value.
But maybe if we look closer, we can make sense out of the
paradox. Personal relationships complicate the allocation of school

funds. It is great to be neighbors with local school commissioners or


go to church with them; but it becomes a problem when these personal
relationships influence the distribution of funds in local
communities. Uneven dispersal of school funds leads to inequity in
school programs and limits educational success. Schools turn to a
cycle of corruption to remain open; hurting students and only helping
those who are employed. Amendment 1 promises to rid chronically
failing schools of the corruption that plagues failing schools in
Georgia.
Amendment 1 also attracts conservatives because of the specific
plan Governor Deal laid out for undertaking chronically failing public
schools. Governor Deal proposes that only after three years of scores
below 60 (Associated Press) would schools become eligible for the
state reform program. The state could only accept twenty schools in
the OSD program a year, assuring a narrowly focused program to failing
schools. Deals proposal also requires public schools to remain in the
OSD program for a minimum of 5 years but no more than 10 years
(Opportunity School District Proposal). This way, Deal ensures that
the state will not stay in power and must return jurisdiction to local
control. The strict time requirement allows for abundant time for
schools with failing test scores to show improvement.

These

guidelines for accepting schools into the OSD proposal ensure that the
state government will not completely take over public high schools.
Amendment 1 establishes a boundary line to restrict ongoing government
control. Each OSD will have an appointed superintendent that serves at
the governors pleasure. The superintendent can only withhold up to 3

percent of a schools funding (Associated Press). Even though the


state is more involved in the schools funding, they still do not have
totalitarian control over the money. A complex formula will determine
the amount of school funding that the state uses, for administration
purposes, under Deals proposed plan.

If a school has been

chronically failing, we maturely need to admit that the school does


not work and does not provide the best education for future
generations. Amendment 1 offers a plan that will turn chronically
failing schools around and properly educate students.
Liberals traditionally support government intervention and
conservatives oppose it. However, in this case the government
intervention is the best interest of the children and necessary to
bring Georgia schools up to national standards.

Work Cited
Leftwich, Rebecca. "Amendment 1 Would Transfer Control of failing
Schools to State." The Newnan Times-Herald. Newnan Times-Herald,
20 Oct. 2016. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
Associated Press. "Georgia School Amendment Renews Debate over Weak
Schools." Ajc. Atlanta Journal Constitution, 22 Oct. 2016. Web.
28 Oct. 2016.
"Opportunity School District Proposal." Governor Nathan Deal Office of
the Governor. State of Georgia, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2016.

También podría gustarte