The Tennessee General Assembly will hold a “special session” starting on January 27th to address Hurricane Relief, Immigration, and Vouchers. The three issues are unrelated, and the need for a special session is questionable. The legislature should add School Safety to this agenda since that is also an issue that needs focus.
Hurricane relief should have already been addressed, and immigration issues are federal issues. It's essential to take our time with the voucher issue; rushing it through a special session isn’t the answer, no matter what side you stand on. Let's ensure we handle this thoughtfully and thoroughly before spending $447 million to provide school vouchers to 20,000 students, mostly already in private schools next academic year. Politics and life are shaped not only by the decisions we make but also by the choices we choose not to make.
In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, it is suggested that a state flourishes best when its leaders reluctantly govern, prioritizing stability. In contrast, a state where leaders are overly eager to wield their power may create significant challenges. By emphasizing measured leadership, society can achieve greater harmony.
Like many, I am disillusioned with the politics of our times. In our dealings with the government, we must brace ourselves for inevitable disappointments. Ronald Reagan got it right when he said, “You can’t be for big government, big taxes, and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy.” I miss those advocating for a vision of a society where freedom, individual responsibility, and limited government coexist to create a prosperous and just nation.
I am reminded of a story about Bill Clinton, who was arguably one of the best political speakers of his generation. In a speech, Clinton expressed his deep concern for all children and their education. He reportedly claimed he cared for children as much as their parents did.
After the speech, a young mother approached President Clinton and asked him if it was true that he cared for children as much as their parents. Clinton affirmed that it was indeed true. The mother asked him, “Can you tell me my children’s names?” Clinton was left speechless. While I cannot confirm this event's accuracy, it is a powerful message about priorities. Politicians may feign interest, but parents must be invested in their children’s lives.
Tennessee has a supermajority of Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly. However, there is a growing divide among members of the same party and conservatives who feel their voices are silenced and ideas rejected. There is a more significant ideological conflict within the party than anyone has acknowledged. Democrats are also at a political crossroads. They need an honest evaluation of how to appeal to everyday Tennesseans.
Whichever side figures it out first may be in the best position to lead should a political shift occur in the state. The concepts of freedom, the role of government, individual responsibility, and the importance of self-governance must be on the table.
There is a growing consensus in education that many policymakers do not grasp. An emerging consensus is the desire to prioritize the partnership between parents and schools by promoting greater transparency. The debate over school choice has become a battle of messaging. While parents generally support defined “school choice,” they oppose universal vouchers whenever they appear on the ballot. Out-of-state groups primarily fund this issue. Although support for school choice remains strong, budgets are increasingly tight, and financial projections often exceed actual budgets. Eventually, the standards-based reform movement and the universal school voucher lobby will likely conflict.
History shows that well-intentioned programs can increase government control, prompting many to advocate for limited government. Tennesseans often express skepticism toward bureaucracy, believing that a large government creates inefficiency and undermines individual rights. This concern applies to a new $447 million voucher program intended for 20,000 students, which is expected to grow and require more accountability as it expands.
Despite my disillusionment with politics, I remain hopeful about the possibility of state and national resurgence through shared effort and a return to our core values of freedom and individual dignity. A government “of the people, by the people, for the people” can succeed if enough individuals speak out on issues that are important to all of us.
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JC Bowman is the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee.
