Author

Larry Lee

Evaluators slammed Washington County charter application

All charter school applications must be evaluated by a qualified entity before action by the state charter school commission. From the outset, this was done by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers based in Chicago. Today, it is being done by the Auburn Center for Evaluation, a part of the Auburn University College of … Continued

Larry Lee

April 18, 2019

Opinion

Those who ignore the past cannot see the future

As I read the pontifications of present and former politicians who have all the answers for education in Alabama, my first inclination is to laugh. But I don’t because it is obvious that they have either forgotten the state’s past – or never knew it. So instead of reason or logic, they only preach fantasy, totally … Continued

Larry Lee

April 8, 2019

Opinion

Del Marsh and his standard repeal farce

One of the definitions of “farce” is “an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding or situation.” I can think of no better example than the effort by Sen. Del Marsh to repeal the Alabama College & Career Ready standards. First, Marsh was a staunch supporter of these standards. In an article by the Business Council … Continued

Larry Lee

April 1, 2019

Opinion

Education matters

President Trump had hardly taken the oath of office in January 2017 when his advisor, Kellyanne Conway, told Meet the Press about “alternative facts.” She was trying to defend press secretary Sean Spicer for disputing how many people attended the Trump inauguration. Host Chuck Todd simply told her, “Look, alternative facts are not facts. They’re … Continued

Larry Lee

March 18, 2019

Opinion

Baldwin County school board sues state Superintendent Eric Mackey

Three weeks ago, we told you about the mess in Baldwin County regarding the effort of Gulf Shores to start its own city school system. The county school board was not happy at all with the way in which state superintendent, Eric Mackey, seemed to be tipping the scales in favor of Gulf Shores. They felt he … Continued

Larry Lee

February 18, 2019

Opinion

Remembering Feb. 28, 2013, and the politics of contempt

Feb. 28, 2013 was just another late winter’s day in Montgomery. The temperature was in the 50’s, the Legislature was in session and the State Board of Education was having a work session. State Superintendent Tommy Bice was at the work session with no clue that Hell was about to break loose two blocks away … Continued

Larry Lee

February 11, 2019

Opinion

We have a new “failing” schools list, another example of just how stupid the Accountability Act really is

The 2013 Alabama Accountability Act decreed that we would come up with a list of “failing” schools each year. The Legislature, in its infinite wisdom, said the list would be the bottom 6 percent of all public schools. Supposedly, this was so we could give scholarships to private schools for students in these schools. But, … Continued

Larry Lee

January 29, 2019

Opinion

Alabama Policy Institute strikes out again

Editor’s note: This piece is in response to a guest column published Wednesday. The Alabama Policy Institute has their propaganda machine working overtime trying to convince us that the Alabama Accountability Act will not only cure ingrown toenails, make tomatoes grown and stop your husband from snoring, but is just the magic elixir to save public … Continued

Larry Lee

January 24, 2019

Opinion

Survey says time for Accountability Act to go

More than 600 people have responded so far to a recent online survey about the Alabama Accountability Act. They are loud and clear as to how they feel. Seventy-six percent say it should be repealed. Another 17 percent say it should be modified and only one percent say it should be left as is. This is not … Continued

Larry Lee

January 15, 2019

Opinion

Writers of Accountability Act never heard of the Good Samaritan

Most of us heard the parable of the Good Samaritan at an early age. Probably in a Sunday School Class. And in Alabama, it was probably a Baptist Sunday School. As you remember, Jesus told the story of a Jewish traveler who was beaten and left by the side of the road. A priest saw … Continued

Larry Lee

January 8, 2019