When we fought for ethnic studies bill last year, there was a woman that testified against the bill because she believed the more inclusive we are, European history would be replaced. The zero-sum theory is why we can’t have nice things. #utpol #utleg #sltrib #HB215
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2023/02/02/darlene-mcdonald-playing-zero/
Destroying public education has been the goal of groups like the Heritage Foundation and ALEC that members of #utleg have ties to. The intent behind vouchers has always been to gut public education.
Questions need to be asked and answered. What are #HB215 sponsor's ties to Ms. Sorenson & #Utah Fits For All? Who knew about this extortion plot? Who knew what and when did they know it. This bill needs to be shut down, now! #utpol #vouchers #PublicEducation
I was once a major #vouchers proponent, now I'm a bit more ambivalent. Such programs come with high up-front costs that are unlikely to become revenue-neutral in less than 10 years, and the demand for options in education has been filled very well by online and #CharterSchools. I'm still open to discussing specific programs, especially ones that seek to solve education corner cases like #SpecialEducation.
Where I definitely get off the bus is this attempt with #HB215 to tie teacher raises to creating a voucher program. That's the kind of nonsense we hate Congress for doing, and the #utleg should and absolutely does know better. They owe it to all of us to provide two clean bills separating the issues, not trying to force the governor's hand. #utpol https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2023/01/19/why-utahs-gop-lawmakers-are/
Members of the public swarmed a legislative committee hearing and several overflow rooms at the Utah Capitol Thursday afternoon, eager to weigh in on whether or not Utah parents should be able to use public education funds to pay for private schools in the state.
Darlene McDonald
Jesse Harris