And by that I mean, a separation of Delaware’s Democrats in the General Assembly from Governor Jack Markell (D). On Friday, the Governor went on Rick Jensen’s show on WDEL and stated that he would veto House Bill 50 (the opt-out bill) if it passed the House and Senate. HB 50 would allow parents to opt their child or children out of state standardized testing. The bill cleared the House Education Committee last week and it awaits a vote by the full House, which may come this week.
“I never say what I’m going to do to a bill in advance, but I can say I absolutely do not support that bill,” Markell said. Markell said it’s his job to do what’s best for Delaware kids, and he said opting out of the Smarter Balanced assessment isn’t the way.
“Civil rights communities across the country, the NAACP, the urban leagues have been very, very focused on not allowing opt out because they’re concerned that if the kids are allowed to opt out they’ll fall through the cracks,” he said. Markell also stood behind Delaware’s adoption of the Common Core standards.
They are falling through the cracks now because they are not learning. They spend all their time trying to prepare for an impossible test. But I digress.
These standardized tests are very unpopular with parents across the country and here in Delaware. They are very unpopular with teachers, and educators. They are only popular with those who want to “reform” education so as to either 1) privatize it, or 2) enrich themselves or their benefactors, or 3) both. So General Assembly Democrats have a decision to make.
Are they on the side of the people, of families, or parents and children, of teachers?
Or are they required to support Governor Markell just because it’s the Delaware Way?
Before they answer, they should consider this from WDDE:
Gov. Jack Markell’s (D) approval ratings have dropped significantly over the past year and a half, now standing just below 50 percent. Last September, a University of Delaware poll found 55 percent of Delawareans viewed Markell favorably. But new figures from Public Policy Polling out of Raleigh, North Carolina show that number dipped slightly to 49 percent – with 19 percent strongly approving of his job performance and 30 percent somewhat approving of it.
That’s a large skid from a similar UD poll conducted September 2013 where 62 percent of state residents approved of Markell. The governor has put forth several controversial measures during that time. His Priority Schools plan sparked fierce backlash from the Christina and Red Clay School Districts, while last year’s gas tax proposal fell flat with state lawmakers and voters alike. The most recent poll conducted last week found that approval of Delaware’s General Assembly tracked a bit higher at 52 percent.
Jack Markell has nothing to lose. He will not face the voters again. General Assembly Democrats will, some of them in less than 18 months. Markell’s numbers are going to continue to fall so long as he continues with his disastrous education policies. Democrats in the General Assembly would do well to separate themselves from him now, lest their poll numbers follow the Governor’s into negative territory.