Lisa Clapp for School Board

I am writing about relatively few primary races this year.  But there is one race that represents a great opportunity.

The Guilford County school board at-large race pits Lisa Clapp against incumbent Nancy Routh and one other challenger.  I have had the opportunity to read press accounts regarding this race.  In addition, Ms. Clapp has a website that provides insight into what her key issues are.  Here is what she says:

I am passionate about Guilford County schools and the need for improvement. In order for teachers to teach and academic achievement to increase, safety and discipline are essential. Teachers need the support of community, parents, students and administrators in order to provide a challenging academic and safe environment for all students. I support SROs in the middle and high schools, the return of neighborhood schools and more budget accountability.

I have not had the opportunity to meet Ms. Clapp or to observe her at any kind of forum.  However, based on what I see, it appears she would represent a vast improvement over Nancy Routh.

Ms. Routh must be regarded as part of the education establishment.  That is her training, and it seems to be her inclination.  She has not shown sufficient leadership on the issues Ms. Clapp identifies.  While she may boast an advanced degree, that does not necessarily mean she will provide the kind of leadership that is needed.

I urge readers to look at the candidacy of Ms. Clapp.  It appears she would be much more likely to advocate for the types of issues that desperately require attention in the Guilford County Schools system.

Comments

[Stormy]

Dr. Routh is a fine person, but she is part of the system. There is no way that Dr. Routh could ever be counted upon to make the necessary changes needed in public education. To people like her, all we need to do is spend more money to solve our education problems. That's right, we do not spend enough. Dr. Routh is a good person, but she is a prisoner of the status quo gripping our schools. It has always been said that organizations cannot change themselves from within. True change must come from outside forces. If we are truly to "reform" public education, it needs to be people who have not been indoctrinated in the system.

The progressive indoctrination of our young that has been happening in our colleges and universities for decades is now occurring in our high schools, and even middle schools and elementary schools.

Consider this article about Rethinking Education:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/rethinking_education.html

"Public education from grades K through 12 gobbles up 38% of all state government spending. State and local spending on public education is more than $15,000 per pupil. Federal spending on public education was almost nonexistent a few decades ago, but now it is growing fast. America, in fact, spends more per capita on public education than almost any nation in the world. Are we getting much for that investment? Not according to test scores."

[Joe Guarino]

I agree, Stormy. My hope is that the presence of Ms. Clapp on the school board might shake things up a bit.

[Stormy]

Joe, if the number of $15,000 per pupil per year is correct to educate students in public schools, then their education in K-12 would cost more ($180,000 for 12 years) than their attendance for four years at most of the finest universities in the land. i understand that the total current cost of four years at the University of North Carolina would be about $75,000.

[Wendy S. Raines]

Joe,

I also support Lisa Clapp for School Board. I am a friend of a friend of her family and she is taking it upon herself to be elected to public office in order to return discipline and order to the school system.

[Joe Guarino]

Thanks, Wendy. I hope she is elected, and then we would see what she can do.

Her opponent, Ms. Routh, is what I would call an "educrat". We can do better that that.