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Clear evidence that West Virginia's two teachers' unions continue to exert tremendous influence in the state Legislature was provided this week. It came when Gov. Joe Manchin and legislative leaders agreed not to pursue a bill that would have provided more support for charter schools. We agree with Manchin - and a substantial number of legislators - that more charter schools in West Virginia would be a good idea. The governor had intended to ask lawmakers, now in a special session on education issues, to approve a charter schools bill. But the measure was pulled from Manchin's list of education proposals. According to a published report, that happened after the governor met with state Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin and House of Delegates Speaker Richard Thompson to discuss his school reform plans. "We counted the votes and we didn't think we have enough to move it," Manchin said of the charter schools bill, according to the Charleston Daily Mail. Tomblin, D-Logan County, agreed. But he thought state senators would have viewed the charter schools measure favorably, he added. Thompson, D-Wayne County, did not comment on his meeting with Tomblin and the governor. In the past, however, it has been reported that the obstacle blocking a charter schools bill was in the House. Both the West Virginia Education Association and the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers have criticized charter school proposals fiercely. Clearly, they still hold enough clout in the Legislature - particularly in the House of Delegates - to kill school reform proposals they do not like. That should upset West Virginians who want better public schools. During the past couple of years, many lawmakers have signaled a willingness to break with the unions if necessary in order to tackle education reform. Unfortunately, it appears more minds need to be changed at the state Capitol, however. |
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