People need to be careful who they vote for as they may be sorry after their candidates are elected.

Politicans don't vote for what's right or wrong they vote to get relected.

Republicans are putting this state under. But Alabama filled in that one R slot so this is what you get when you vote straight ticket. You all wanted charter schools, you have it now. Charter schools are not about teaching, they are all about making money. Charter schools are BIG business. Sad so many people did not think before they voted.

I find it amusing that a "journalist" and an editorial staff has a much better vision for what is good for Alabama than the collective group that enacted the legislation. If the old way was right, then why in the hell do we have so many failing schools?

This is but the beginning. The Decatur Daily, the A.E.A., and the Democrat Party are preparing more sickening punishment for the days and months ahead, (see comments posted by "DECATUR HIGH," Mar. 2,2013). Note that the editorial mirrors the Democrat Party position, easily fashioned, no deep thought required, yet well paid. While many areas of the country are ripe, or rife, with economic and minority unrest, Alabama is one of a goodly number of states that have successfully resisted this trend. Oddly, it could very well be the silent Alabama public school teachers who forestalled the advance of Democrat Party ideals, and may yet spare our children. The Decatur City School system, once one of the crown jewels of the state, has, over the years, been blessed with an abundance of remarkably talented public school teachers. Great educators like Coach Ogle and the more diminutive Margaret Brown, (who, astonishingly, wielded the paddle with identical authority as this commenter can attest), are but two of a lengthy list that would later include the names McAvoy and Warth, down through the years to Hastings, Clevinger, Lacy, Felts, Cantrell, and others too numerous to list, who could not be bent to any agenda save for universal truth. Teachers whose unwavering commitment to learning, molding young minds, and shaping untold lives, earned the undying appreciation of the community. These teachers whose unrivaled command of their subjects, combined with a love and devotion to children which knew no measure, and, singular determination to student excellence, produced generations of leaders, and, in all likelihood, instilled the same virtues in many future educators. The recent incident in Florence involving a teacher's rather ineloquent comments serves to reveal a sentiment shared by many, perhaps a majority, of teachers who will never abide the horrific A.E.A. social platform in the classroom. While long time neutral silence sealed their economic fate, the unspoken, untaught ideas simeoultaneously doomed the Democrat Party, the A.E.A., and the Decatur Daily by limiting to a certain degree, local low information voters.

Presently, the loyal Democrat Party stalwarts in the school system, and, in the Daily readership, are too few in number to bring about widespread disruption and, instead, unite only in harsh criticism and coming vandalism. They have no new solutions. Though weakened, this group still intends to strike at the community. We must remain vigilant ........... and stay the course

My apologies to named teachers still living, as they may now incur the wrath of this poisonous cabal.

When you have to have a "carnival" and free food at the public housing in order to meet parents....pretty much says it all.

the legislators are Mike Hubbard first and district back home 2nd.

Smoke and mirrors by the folks opposing this - trying to take away from the fact that they are trying to force one school onto the people of Decatur - if DCS officials feel they were treated poorly with the decision for this law why don't they put their money where their mouth is and offer the on school agenda to the people of Decatur in the form of a vote for or against?

How so Carolyn? What is Mike Hubbard getting out of it? All you're doing is saying what you think is the popular thing to say.

I did not realize I was with the populist opinion on the issue but if you say so Ted I guess it is. I would think the position you are taking is more like the sheep position. Hubbard has a supermajority and is speaker of the house. He is getting his agenda accomplished.

The AEA union was raking in $430,000 a month as recently as two years ago to buy election for Alabama democrats and some people didn't think they were big business?

I have yet to see Mr. Orr's comments...

His child attends a Private School, yes?

Jerry the majority of the state legislators children attend private schools. They make more than $70,000 which qualifes them for the tax credit. Bills are passed to help the politicans, lobbyists and their friends.

Where is the tagline showing who wrote this?

If there are 14 comments, why agree only 2 shown?

This is an editorial. Editorials are not signed because they are considered the collective opinion of the editors and owners. Remember...it's not a news story, and it's not journalism. It's an EDITORIAL, which is an opinion.

Have a different opinion? Feel free to write a letter to the editor.

And...I agree with "Well... from"

I agree with Well..... as well! We have a group of extremely concerned, dedicated, administrators and teachers who are willing to use their personal time and resources to do whatever is necessary to help their students succeed. Kudos to those who aren't afraid to be innovative, who took time to visit other school districts and observe their practices and who are committed to removing labels from the schools and the students that they serve.