Thursday letters: The great equalizer: Education

Education

Regarding "School takeover proposals have pitfalls that should concern Texans" (Page B13, April 12), I was troubled to read the op-ed by David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas opposing parent empowerment.

As president of the African-American Fellowship and a strong supporter of empowering parents to improve our schools, I feel compelled to speak out.

In his essay Anthony claimed that parents and community leaders like myself have created a "manufactured sense of crisis" about our public schools.

I can only conclude that Dr. Anthony does not know anyone attending Gregory-Lincoln or Kashmere High School or any of the other 20 Houston Independent School District schools that have been rated "Academically Unacceptable" for the past two years. If he did, he could not possibly claim that there is a "manufactured crisis" in our lowest-performing schools that serve primarily African-American and Latino children.

Anthony's claim that minority children not being able to read and write at grade level is a "manufactured crisis" is plain offensive.

Education is an equalizer and a civil right. As a pastor, I regularly counsel and advise mothers who have to get their children out of jail or deal with delinquencies because of the lack of quality schools and a positive environment. This breaks my heart.

The church is the foundation of the community and will support parents as they stand for equality and justice in education for their children. We call on House Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock to finally bring this important Parent Empowerment legislation up for a vote.

Elmo Johnson, pastor, Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church, Houston