Editorial: School Data - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: School Data

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The U.S. Justice Department, which is among the groups suing Alabama over its new immigration law, recently sent letters to school superintendents in our state, asking for information about student enrollment.

The department says it's concerned that Alabama's new law "may chill or discourage" young people from taking part in public education. Each school district was asked to submit nine sets of data, including a list of enrolled students and a list of students who have withdrawn from school since the start of the academic year – around the time the immigration law took effect.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange does not agree with the U.S. Justice Department's authority to compel this information and has shared his opinion with state education officials.

How unfortunate that our public school system which is currently strained while operating with budget reductions, early teacher retirements and aging facilities is now put in the middle of this constitutional tug of war. 

This issue needs to be debated in the courtroom and not the classroom as our schools have all they can handle right now.

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