Exclusive: A Delaware Legislator Is Not The Hero For Public Education They Appear To Be
I’ve been wrestling with something for a long time now. I found out something. Something big. Usually my first instinct is to get it out there. But this was BIG, and if I was wrong about it, it could have shot me in the foot. It concerns a legislator and an election. But more than that, it concerned friends. Friends who are very supportive of this particular legislator. I’ve had wrestling matches in my head before about these kind of things, but usually the need for truth prevails. This time though, it was different.
I reached out to the legislator about this a month ago. The legislator confirmed what I found out was true. I asked the legislator why they did what they did. The legislator explained it to me, and for the past month, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around their answer. I did talk to some of the friends who support this legislator hoping they could give some type of insight into why the legislator made the choice he did. There really wasn’t anything they could say that would assuage my doubts about him.
It comes down to truth. After seeing another Delaware blogger praise this legislator to the high heavens today, I could no longer stand by and not let people know this. And as I was working on this article, many other dots began to connect. They will certainly make up their mind either way. I assume many will just brush it off. But for some of those who directly support this legislator, they could change their mind about him. I don’t know. That is their choice, just as this choice is mine.
Since I started this blog, two bills were very contentious. One was just getting around to a vote when I began this blog. The other became the central point of my blog for about five months last year. House Bill 334 and House Bill 50. The Smarter Balanced Assessment and the Opting Out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment bills.
Many know the story about what happened with the Smarter Balanced Assessment legislation. But if you don’t, here is a quick rundown. House Bill 334 was introduced by two primary sponsors and only one co-sponsor. Former State Rep. (and also Chair of the House Education Committee at the time) Darryl Scott and Senator David Sokola sponsored the bill. State Rep. Deb Heffernan was the only co-sponsor. The bill came out on 5/8/14. It was released from the House Education Committee on 6/4/14. The House voted on the bill 6/17/14 where it passed with 30 yes, 9 no, and 2 absent. From there, it went to the Senate Education Committee where it was released on 6/25/14. It was put on the agenda for a full Senate vote on 6/26/14. The day came. Senator Bryan Townsend gave a very impassioned speech about the bill and the damage this test could do. The Senate voted.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment was defeated! Students would NOT have to take this test so many were dreading. It was a rare moment of victory for Exclusive: A Delaware Legislator Is Not The Hero For Public Education They Appear To Be – Exceptional Delaware:
