Class size and teacher shortage leads state school superintendent debate

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Posted 9:14AM on Monday, October 28, 2002

ATLANTA - It may not be the three R's, but candidates running for state school superintendent say class size, teacher shortage and creating a respectful relationship with legislators are the things needed to raise morale among educators and boost the state's lackluster test scores. The half-hour debate, sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast live on public television stations across Georgia, ranged in topic from creationism to charter schools. It stayed largely civil, with the harshest exchange coming from Democrat Barbara Christmas, who said GOP candidate Kathy Cox was "not being honest" when she claimed Christmas supported the governor's education bill in 2000. The governor's bill offers limited public school choice, increases testing, creates an independent office of school accountability and eliminates tenure for new teachers. "You know I never stood by on Gov. Barnes endorsing that bill. I worked for changes up to the last minute," said Christmas, a teachers association executive. Cox, a state House representative, voted against the bill. She said the bill fences local schools by increasing mandates in all areas, including class size and curriculum. With Georgia's SAT scores pulling the state from 49th in the nation to 50th in the nation this year, Cox said she would offer a SAT preparation course in school as a for-credit course. In an earlier debate Sunday, GOP gubernatorial candidate Sonny Perdue proposed the same thing. Most of the debate rehashed rhetoric from the candidates primary speeches, which were strikingly similar. Cox and Christmas agreed on several points, including establishing better communication with legislators and school board members as well as giving local principals leeway in determining how to improve achievement in their schools. Both also say they want to retain the foreign language requirement for college-prep classes. Libertarian candidate Lynn Krogseng said if she were elected, parents would have a bigger say in their children's education. "Government got in the way of a happy situation," said Krogseng, who has a son that is homeschooled. "Government can best serve me and my child's situation by allowing me full control."