No room? Oh well, I suppose the effort won't be a total bust. A good number of folks will get the credit for ALREADY having their children in private schools.

If it helps one child it is worth it.

Mary, your article today is heavily weighted with the Democrat Party sentiment to which the readership is accustomed. I am pleased my endorsement helped return your focus.

What a load of crap..... exactly what I expected DD

The person who wrote the bill is a member of ALEC, Chad Finch. FACT

Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) - In a statement to the citizens’ action group Better Georgia on April 17, 2012, Orrock denounced ALEC, calling it “radical,” “dangerous” and accused it of “impeding democracy.”[1]

“As a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council for several years, having joined ALEC with the primary goal of better understanding the corporate-dominated organization, I know first-hand that ALEC is not the innocuous organization it claims to be,” Orrock said.

Are you scared yet? Keep in mind, they learned these tactics from our presedent. Lie and scare the people. And DO NOT let them think it through for themselves. Unfortunately, most people just read this stuff and believe whatever they are told. This is what scares me!

Why is this article crap. It gives both sides equal representation. Anyway, I am against Bill 84 and have been since it was changed, but what I am having a harder time with is the notion that the Alabama High School Athletic Association saying that if a kid transfers from a failing school he/she would lose a year of eligibility if the parents don't make a bona-fide move . I know they are trying to cut down on recruiting kids for the sole purpose of athletics, but why should the student athletes suffer the consequences. I find it hard to believe that the Republicans are OK with this. Example: A soon to be senior, who happens to be a good athlete, is in a failing school and wants to transfer to a better academic institution, but he/she can't because they would have to forfeit their senior year? This doesn't make sense! This just goes to show you that the handful of Republicans behind this bill don't really care about the students like they say or they would fight this. I didn't say it was every Republican, just the ones that are spearheading this bill. Most of the other Republicans just voted party lines without even knowing what was in the bill, they have stated so in public forums.

At last, common, if delicate, ground. I do not understand the denial of scholarships based on athleticism, as many have used them as springboards to future success. What could it matter as long as they transfer to a non-failing school? Do you mind explaining to me the law's intent?

If the student is a good athlete I'm positive Hopkins would find a place for them.

PS - Why does the head of AEA send his children to PRIVATE school? Does he not have confidence in his own public school systems?

D- I'll say it again. Whether or not they admit it, most folks send their children to private schools for one of three reasons, religion, scientific/performing arts concentration, or segregation. It is quite an assumption to say that the zoned public school offers a poor education simply because he sends his children to private school. I prefer CoCa-Cola, but that doesn't mean Pepsi is poisonous.

Yeah whatever, S. Your reasoning is a load of crap. It speaks volumes to me that you and others would want to keep children in a failing school system. It's all about bodies in desks, isn't it?

My daughter is an honors student in an "excellent" public school system. Last year, she was expected to read to some of the other students in her classroom (6th grade) because they COULD NOT READ. I know it for a fact, because I talked to her teacher about it. They were WHITE students. How did they get past the first grade without learning how to read, S?

I'm sorry, did I just step into the twilight zone. What reasoning are you referring to, Rebecca? And, where did I suggest keeping children in a failing school system? I am against robbing public schools so that the wealthy parents of private school children can get a tax break on their six figure income. Alabama law already allows parents to move their children from a failing school. This should not be news to anyone who followed the story about Brookhaven's students last year. The only thing that this bill will add is a full tax break for families who pay more than $3,500 in State taxes.The result of it's passing will be less funding for the excellent public school that your child attends and will, in short order, have a negative impact on student performance.

Since educators don't use the phrase "CAN NOT READ" when referring to students, I find your story puzzling. Good teachers speak in terms of a student's grade level in reading - whatever it may be. It could be that he/she was generalizing to ensure you understood.

I'm not sure what you gleened from my earlier comment, but it speaks volumes to me that you would support a push to strip funding from a system in which your child is clearly excelling.

Read this article Rebecca and tell me that what S is saying isn't the truth anymore. Mr. DeMarco's district includes Vestavia Hills. He is really concerned about kids in failing schools isn't he? Just as long as they do not try to attend Vestavia Hills. You see Rebecca, the Republicans say one thing and do another. He wanted the original bill passed that stated public or private schools "would not" have to be forced to take kids from failing schools and now he and his Republican constituents are made because they may have to take kids from failing schools into Vestavia Hills if the 2nd bill is passed. This bill is nothing more than a tax break for people who already send their kids to private schools. Copy the link below into your web browser and read for yourself. Otis you may like this article also.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/republican_rep_paul_demarco_wa.html#incart_river_default

Decatur High, I have already read that article about DeMarco. I do not agree with him at all, and I believe he is wrong. Schools are already segregated -- largely by socioeconomic status. I am not a Republican -- I am a conservative independent. Some of the shenanigans on both sides of the aisle have been absolutely despicable, in my opinion.

As for you, S ... your argument that this legislation would strip funding from my school system is wrong. The tax dollars follow the child, and parents want their children to attend schools in our system. It will bring more tax money our way. I want ALL children to get an excellent education. In the public school system, you should get the same education regardless of which school you attend. I have a great deal of respect for teachers who want to teach, and who inspire their children to broaden their horizons and learn. I have a great deal of respect for administrators who spend many hours planning and looking for creative ways to consistently engage and involve parents in school activities. This bill if signed into law will help children who want to learn, regardless of their socioeconomic status. You should not be trapped in a failing school if your parents can't afford to move, and they cannot afford the tuition to send you to a better school. End of story.

Tell me Rebecca - the tax dollars that the private schools children's parents no longer pay....where will that come from? You can attempt to wrap up the discussion with your "end of story", but know that it is fiction.

Maybe this will cause the "failing" schools to start performing better! Something has to be done, all the democrats want is more money thrown at the schools, and it ain't working!!! How about holding some of these parents that don't give a crap about their kids educations, accountable? NO, we reward these parents with more money for each kid, more food stamps, more obamaphones, etc!