Colby John Bates

Why are longtime conservative educators like me (lifelong R voter who voted for Abbott), posting and sharing this video? Here is why: Last Fall @GovAbbott recognized the statewide shortage of teachers, calling a special commission to address the issue. He was focused on public ed. But then, at some point he became fixated on vouchers and launched his Private school only tour where he began denouncing public ed calling us “Educrats” and indoctrinators. His actions were then echoed by many in #txlege who began affirming their west texas donors. They started clout chasing voucher lobbyists (with photo ops, using their catchphrases) and blasting public school supporters as Anti Family and Anti-Freedom. Then came the actual voucher bills in March. The bills did not (and do not) actually guarantee any choice for parents. That could be remedied, but instead they created a choice only for the schools. Further they exempted private schools from all the accountability and other compliance mandates which were being used to criticize schools. “PubEd test scores are bad”—but voucher bills removed state testing requirements “PubEd schools have too many admin”-but voucher bills exempted all the compliance, reporting, and mandates that require more admin etc. Then there were the actual bill hearings where many #txlege used their time to fawn over lobbyists while blasting actual fellow conservative public school leaders The icing was the recent public admission that the Governor is dangling any raise for teachers as a “carrot” for getting vouchers passed. So here we are. Me, a long time R voter with Public, Private, and Charter service now finding alignment with the remaining pro public ed republicans and also leading Democrats, but largely abandoned by the state leadership.