Cunningham: Why give money to the schools? They're terrible!

Sen. Jane Cunningham, friend of the working child, continued her war against public education today, recording one of only six Senate votes against a measure that provided $189 million in federal surplus money to our schools.

Mrs. Cunningham indicated that the schools did not deserve the money because they are doing such a poor job of educating Missouri's children.

The long-time public school enemy said the schools should receive no money unless it was accompanied by the passage of her bill eliminating teacher tenure, tying teacher pay to standardized test scores and the institution of vouchers for private schools, according to an MNEA bulletin.

She was joined in her vote by senators Brian Nieves, R-St. Louis County, Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, and Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit.

The senators representing this corner of the state, Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon; and Mike Parson, R-Bolivar all voted for the bill.