East Cobb Democratic Alliance: Recent Comments

Comment on RuthE Levy -- On Vouchers for Special Needs Children

David Lombrozo — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:54:46 GMT

CDG,

As most people who know RuthE are aware, she has two special needs children and one profoundly autistic grandson so she knows full well the trials and tribulations of what it takes to raise them.

Since the article was talking about a proposal to gut the public school system RuthE's response was correctly confined to that topic.

As she pointed out, we need more resources, not less. If the 'voucher' only removed the additional funds the state provides for that child, the amount would be appalling and scarcely enough to attend a private school. By the same logic as Sherry, it would also not be fare to remove funds used for other children just to ease your financial pain.

If you had attended some of the public debates, you would have heard RuthE declare publicly that there are plenty of funds to properly educate the special needs children of Cobb County. If the state would stop forcing unfunded mandates on local school districts or taking from Cobb Country district to subsidize other districts around the state, there would be plenty of funds available to provide enough skilled and trained resources so that special needs kids can be educated to their full potential in the same neighborhood school as their friends and siblings.

CDG made a statement of '2 years' while the message above was only posted 14 months ago. Seems like someone needs a math refresher assuming it was an accident.

Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another. When you want to take your 'fair share' of property tax money to do what you want but support taking away someone else's education and property values because its not your highest priority, that seems like the ultimate in hypocracy.

RuthE has lobbied on behalf of all of our children and tutored special needs children when the resources were unavailable. At one time, she had 11 special needs children in her class at one time with no extra resources. All the parents singled her out as a source of strength for them and their children.

Other than taking someone else's money away so that you can do something for your children, what other solutions can you provide?

David

Comment on RuthE Levy -- On Vouchers for Special Needs Children

CDG — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:01:47 GMT

Sherry-

I agree with you. I agree with the concept of keeping money in the public school system but I also believe that system must meet the needs of all children. When it doesn't families should be entitled to their fare share of tax money they pay to ensure their child doesn't fall prey to the inherent inadequacies of that pub school system. Indeed, this candidate and the National PTA LOVE to stand on their soapbox and chant their "One Voice, Every Child" mantra, but they always fall horribly short of explaining what they'll do to educate those special needs children or even those with mild LD issues to keep that money in the system. Too many children have suffered and too many families have been financially depleted by schools lacking the programs needed to serve those kids. Unfortunately, the system needs the threat of loss of money as incentive to educate and care for those kids to help them become successful, productive members of our future.

Still, 2 years later, no answer from RuthE as to what she'd do to support special needs and LD kids.

And yet, she quotes Hilel, "Who am I if I am only for myself". Hypocrite.

Comment on Mike Holzknecht -- Latest News Letter

Judy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:18:01 GMT

Hi Mike, this is Judy Hamilton, 2nd Vice Chair with Cherokee Dems stopping by your blog to say hi and THANK YOU again for your support in Cherokee Dems. You are always a welcome addition to our meetings. Come see us anytime!

Comment on RuthE Levy -- On Vouchers for Special Needs Children

Sherry Cimo — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:16:47 GMT

You must not have a special needs child in public school. In my situation, public school is not working and the voucher go a long was to help me to give my child a more appropriate education (instead of a desk in the principals office), although it would still be tough financially. Your arguement that vouchers take away funding is probably true, but as a parent, minimizing my childs future of success for the masses just isn't a priority.

Comment on Jay Bookman, to Deliver Fifth Annual Address with Response by Dr. Lowery

David Lombrozo — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:41:21 GMT

The discussion was great. Here are the audio files if you want to listen.

Introduction to Jay Bookman

Jay Bookman's Comments

Introduction to Dr. Lowery

Dr. Lowery's comments

Question and Answers by Jay Bookman and Dr. Lowery

Comment on RuthE Levy -- On Vouchers for Special Needs Children

Sander Bellman — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:17:08 GMT

Right on RuthE! I knew there was a good reason I supported your campaign. Let's do all we can to get the truth out on this.