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Larry Lee

Larry Lee

Time for Common Sense

Education Matters By Larry Lee As the years roll along, those of us who qualify as “seniors” have the benefit of viewing things through a lens that includes far more life experiences than those who are our junior.   Some call it “wisdom.”  I prefer to call it “common sense.” And one of the things this common sense has … Continued
January 29, 2016

Fact Checking an Opinion

Education Matters By Larry Lee My friend Joe Morton spent 42 years working in Alabama public schools, the last seven as State Superintendent.  Today he is Chairman and President of the Business Education Alliance, an affiliate of the Business Council of Alabama. Because of this background I did a double take when I saw a recent opinion … Continued
December 29, 2015

Senator Pittman’s Hammer

Education Matters By Larry Lee School kids make a terrible rope in a political tug of war. Yet too many politicians continue to use education dollars as a hammer to wave over the heads of those who run our schools. The latest example is Senator Trip Pittman of Baldwin County, former chair of the Senate … Continued
December 17, 2015

The Devil in the Details

By Larry Lee Education Matters The K 12 education budget has a notation for “current units” that is intended to be divided among faster growing systems to help them deal with growth.  In the past, these monies have been prorated equally.  However, when the budget was written in last Spring’s regular session, someone decided that some systems are more … Continued
November 30, 2015

Accountability Act Leading to Resegregation

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  As soon as the Alabama Accountability Act was passed by the legislature in February 2013 educators knew it was fatally flawed.  It was not supported by research.  Vouchers have never been shown to bring about significant change in education outcomes.  And the promise it would improve failing schools and help … Continued
November 16, 2015

No Accountability in Accountability Act

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  The Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) has made public the latest reports of scholarship granting organizations (SGO) participating in the Alabama Accountability Act.  And once again we see how little accountability there really is in this law. There are currently nine SGOs listed by ADOR.  All were supposed to make … Continued
October 27, 2015

“AAA the gift that keeps on giving,” maybe not

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  Legend has it that the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving,” was used to describe early versions of the phonograph in the 1920’s.  Just 31 months ago the legislature gave us an act that they promised would also, “keep on giving.”  It was the Alabama Accountability Act. But as … Continued
October 2, 2015

Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  Circles really do have a beginning and an end.  But you cannot be in a rush to find them. This particular circle began one Christmas years ago and ended recently at the cemetery across the road from Liberty Baptist Church in the southwest part of Bulloch County.  About 15 years … Continued
October 1, 2015

The Republican Supermajority Cut-and-Paste Education Revelation

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  The legislative supermajority in Montgomery would have us believe that when they conjure up education policy like the Alabama Accountability Act or the charter school bill they retreat to a darkened room with their Ouija board and magically re-appear with ideas they alone thought up. But evidence increasingly shows this … Continued
September 14, 2015

I Weep for Alabama

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee  It has been 49 years since I got my degree at Auburn University.  I’ve spent 47 of those years in Alabama.  Considering my roots, this does not seem odd or unusual to me. My ancestors have been here for nearly 200 years.  Three great-grandfathers served in the Civil War.  One … Continued
August 31, 2015