The Truth about Tuck and Thurmond

02Nov
by Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Every election brings so much tension. And here in California, it’s no different. As we continue in the trajectory of a more progressive state, we are leaving behind some conservative representatives. I personally am alright with that. I have long known that yellow dog Democrats are a dying breed. Many of the races in California include progressive candidates and in many cases we see the more progressive candidates running against the more moderate or conservative progressives. Democrats running against Democrats. That too is a good thing.  

The problem is the demonization of candidates. It is getting ugly out there. In particular, this year we have two Democrats vying for the Statewide office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), schools chief as it were. Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck are running to represent the more than 6 million students enrolled in the PUBLIC education system in the state of California. And they are BOTH advocates of staunch supporters of PUBLIC EDUCATION.  BOTH are supported by education heavyweights. Thurmond by the powerful and wealthy teachers unions and Tuck by the also powerful and wealthy school choice proponents. Does that matter? Where they get their money from?  A little, but not really. At the end of the day, the SPI does not make policy.

In fact, the California Department of Education (CDE) is there to oversee the day to day operations of the entire state public school system and would not really play a huge role in changing things.  Additionally, they MUST both support the schools in the system whether they are charter or traditional.

Let’s put some of these false aspersions to rest shall we.  

  1. Neither one of these candidates supports Donald Trump or Betsy DeVos!  
  2. Neither one of these can or will make drastic changes to the CDE.
  3.    Both candidates are DEMOCRATS and have been all of their adult life.
  4. Thurmond will NOT shut down all charters.
  5. Tuck will NOT convert all schools to charters.
  6. Both would make learning a priority, and both seem to care about kids.

So, while I personally support Tuck over Thurmond, I will be totally okay if voters decide it for Thurmond. The real villain here is big money in campaigns. Until we can figure out a way to run without tons of money from special interests (from all sides), we will continue to have these awful debates. We should be grateful instead that we have two Democrats to choose from and either way, we will have a Democratic SPI.  

Silly season is almost over, and one thing is certain, a Democrat will be the next Superintendent of Public Instruction!

What do you think?

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Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Leticia Chavez-Garcia is a Mother, Grandmother, former Middle School Teacher, former Member of a School Board of Education and an Education Advocate for hundreds of parents and students in the Inland Empire. Having become a mother at 15, Leticia knows what it’s like to be a single mother trying to navigate the education system. Leticia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Masters’ Degree in Education Technology from Cal State Fullerton in her 30’s. Leticia has used her knowledge and experience to help hundreds of families as an Education Advocate in the Inland Empire and currently works as an Education Specialist.

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