Pre-filed Bills Jump-Start 2013 Session

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 11, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Monday morning at precisely ten o’clock the Georgia General Assembly will meet for the first day of the annual 40-day session and, if pre-filed bills are any indication, this session will be filled with controversy.

As of Wednesday, representatives had pre-filed 37 bills and five resolutions. Senators had pre-filed 23 bills and five resolutions and both House and Senate want to lower the mandatory school age from six to five and raise the exit age from 16 to 17, even for kids who are determined to leave school and constantly disrupt classes for everyone else.

If either bill passes, students would have two extra years of politically correct “socialization” and schools would get two extra years of full-time-equivalency (FTE) funding. About that, you need to know that the word “socialization” does NOT mean little Johnny and little Susie will have two more years to learn how to get along with other children. It DOES mean schools would have two more years to train students to adopt the politically correct philosophy that, currently, is being used to transform our culture.These pre-filed bills are H.B. 9 and S.B. 21 and, if either bill passes, family training and nurturing will be weakened with a year less to instill family values and even more money would be shoveled into public schools, with no indication that academic learning would improve.

Lowering the mandatory school age has been an issue for years and you’d think most folks, especially educators, would want children to be mature enough to sit still before they start school, but maybe not. In a 1983 meeting at the Capitol, I heard the president emeritus of Westminster Schools, a private school, say these exact words: “You know, we want the children by the time they’re two.” That’s their plan and they’re getting there step-by-step.

In April 2000 the school age was lowered from seven to six. That had been attempted several times before, but it couldn’t pass as a single issue. So, former Governor Roy Barnes tucked it inside his 150-page H.B. 1187 that revamped education and got the entry age lowered to six.

H.B. 9 and S.B. 21 must be defeated, but committee assignments won’t be announced until the legislature convenes Monday. So, put this on your list of bills to oppose and, as soon as possible, I’ll let you know which legislators to contact. Meanwhile, tell your state legislators these bills are coming and they should vote NO, whether they’re in committee or on the floor! For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.