BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, Bill Armistead, released the following statement regarding the AEA “Save our Schools” rally held today in Montgomery:
“This rally was an intriguing piece of public rhetoric considering AEA’s history of focusing more on partisan politics than on “saving schools.” If saving our schools is really a priority, I think that allowing reinvigoration of Alabama education under Governor Bentley’s leadership would be far more effective than a demonstration.
“During the past year, Republicans have devoted a great deal of legislative energy to developing education reform ideas that will truly benefit students. Governor Bentley and Republican legislators are working to provide tax breaks for teachers to buy supplies, to ensure increased flexibility and accountability in the classroom, and to give larger amounts of oversight authority to local school boards.
“The AEA’s contribution? A rally that claims to rescue schools. No suggestions. No detailed proposal for improving Governor Bentley’s education strategy. No, the union bosses running the AEA are far more focused on giving themselves another moment to raise support for their unofficial mission: to raise money and stay in power.”
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