In Louisiana a teacher was placed in handcuffs and put in jail. Her crime was nothing more than a legitimate complaint. Vermilion Parish Superintendent, Jerome Puyau, ordered Dehshia Hargrave’s removal from a school board meeting. Her crime; verbally protesting a 30 percent raise Puyau awarded himself.
Vermillion Parrish has a severe cash flow problem. This is the comment which resulted in Ms. Hargrave’s physical removal from the meeting.
“A superintendent or any person in a position of leadership getting any type of raise, I feel like it’s a slap in the face to all the teachers, cafeteria workers, and any other support staff we have.”
Since 2001 America has lost its way. Fear tactics have replaced intelligence. Concerns over terrorist attacks have taken priority over what was once our primary concern; education. Without a focus on what could make America a better nation, higher education has become only a dream for far too many of our young and brightest men and women.
America cannot compete with nations such as China or India who believe that knowledge is power if we fail to provide education for all Americans who seek greater knowledge in areas which will move our nation forward into the 21st century, and allow us to be competitive in the largest industries which exist today.
Our nation’s government has its priorities in reverse order. The people of the United States are no more than an afterthought. Its priorities are big business, and the growth of our military which wastes at least 50 percent of its annual funding.
Russia’s interference in our 2016 election is proof that the next world war will be fought with knowledge, not bullets. As of this day, China and Russia are creating a bigger “army” than the United States. We are wasting our time building more weapons of mass destruction. Our leaders in Washington are ignorant and believe that capitalism is more important than our greatest natural resources; our people.
Demand more; refuse to vote for any man or woman who does not support free education for any person who seeks access to a college or university. We must return to the value system which was moving America forward and not backwards as it is today.
Please re-post; thank you.
Op-ed by James Turnage
Photo courtesy of David Ohmer
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