No federal help this year for modernizing the schools in Floyd County, Georgia. And that, says Susan Pierce, means more years of lost learning opportunities. Pierce's senator is up for election this fall, as are many of his colleagues who'd rather subsidize private schools than help public schools modernize. If it weren't for the Presidential veto power, they'd have their way. But Presidential vetoes, Lestina points out, can't pass good legislation like the Public School Modernization Act.
Vetoes can only stop bad legislation.
Earlier this year, NEA members the nation over bombarded Congress with thousands of E-mail messages urging support for school modernization. Here's a sampling. I wholeheartedly support funds being given to the public schools to repair or replace outdated schools here in North Carolina. I am a public school teacher with almost 20 years experience, most of which has been spent in buildings with leaky roofs, outdated plumbing and wiring, and enough roaches to start our own zoo. It really is not fair to ignore the needs of public school children and give yet another tax break to the people who already have enough money to buy an expensive, exclusive education.