My Real Thoughts on Pre-K and Head Start

Dear Friends,

Today I received a very negative piece of mail from Judy Barker and the state Democrat party. This piece of mail implied that I oppose “Pre-K education” for all.  Several months ago I answered a questionnaire that asked, “Would you vote to make it mandatory for all 4-year olds to attend Pre-K?” My answer was “No,” as I feel this should be the parents’ choice.

This is the basis of my opponent’s claim.

Currently, kindergarten, Pre-K and Head Start are not mandatory in Tennessee. I oppose additional government mandates and I feel we need less government in education, not more.

My wife is a school teacher. My mother is on the Obion County Board of Education, and I am serving my 4th term on the Kenton Special School District. In 2001, I negotiated with Pam Castleman and Northwest Tennessee Head Start to bring the program to the Kenton School, and after 9 years, they are still located there. I have and will continue to be an advocate for Head Start and Pre-K programs.

I am surprised by Barker’s claim and I really do not understand how she or the State Democrat Party could draw this incorrect conclusion from my answer to the questionnaire.

My opponent has refused to take a stand on the issue by failing to answer the questionnaire.  Apparently she is more concerned by what might be said about her answers than with advocating for education improvements in our state.  Just a few months ago, she voted against establishing new charter school programs and also voted against the state recognizing the diplomas of home school and church school students. This attack on me was an attempt by my opponent to hide from her own record by lying about mine, and I hope you can see through the deception and inflammatory statements and realize that my opponent is the one standing between your children and a good education.

Thank You,

Bill Sanderson