DHS Close Up Students Meet Georgia Big Wigs
Decatur Metro | March 5, 2010DHS teacher Chris Billingsley reports in…
Today was the last day for Georgia Close Up. The students spent the morning meeting major players at the capital.
The governor’s office called me to say that he needed to spend more time with the DHS students so we came back for another meet & greet. It was obvious that he practiced his dap because he showed us some new techniques- exploding dap! Representative Mike Jacobs from North DeKalb took the students on a tour of the house. I was very impressed that Ms. Sadie Fields, president of the Georgia Christian Alliance and one of the most influential lobbyists in Georgia, came to the capital to meet the students. She talked about the bills her organization supports and opposes. She also explained why she opposes the change to the child prostitution law currently being considered. She ended her time by explaining the importance of student religious liberty in the public schools today. The students later spent more than thirty minutes with state superintendent Kathy Cox. Superintendent discussed her views about the separation of powers, MAP testing, Georgia performance standards, and the fight over the budget. She made it clear that the Georgia Constitution requires funding for K-12 education and that is what she is fighting to preserve. She finished with her famous story about her student teaching days at DHS. What a day and experience for our kids!
Latest from Decaturish
Hopefully, our DHS students were able to talk some sense into the folks at the capital.
And…. Sadie Fields… Really????
I wouldn’t want my child within a country mile of Sadie Fields– especially if my child was gay.
Well, given what I know about the common sense and extreme intelligence of our DHS kids… I’d imagine that they got a good laugh out of it.
Let’s hope so. Teens, no matter how intelligent or savvy, are still very impressionable. I wouldn’t want my kid, if I had one, exposed to demagogues of any stripe.
I was very impressed that Ms. Sadie Fields, president of the Georgia Christian Alliance and one of the most influential lobbyists in Georgia, came to the capital to meet the students. She talked about the bills her organization supports and opposes. She also explained why she opposes the change to the child prostitution law currently being considered. She ended her time by explaining the importance of student religious liberty in the public schools today.
____________________
Yes, this sounds like the sort of horrible stuff that high school students should never hear. To think Christian organizations oppose and support certain bills pending before the State legislature! Surely if Ms. Fields had been sheltered from such views as a child she would have more enligtened views as an adult.
Yes, yes, no contrary opinions here! Can’t compete with the “Take America Back!”crowd.
No, now I’m not saying that these kids shouldn’t hear Sadie Fields – sure they should. I’m also not saying that they shouldn’t wholeheartedly agree with her if that’s where they come down on these types of issues. That’s fine with me – difference of opinion and freedom to express it are what makes this country great.
I’m just expressing my opinion about Sadie Fields… which I get to do also. I’m just admittedly doing it in a bit of a sarcastic… passive aggressive manner. I actually would want for my kid to hear her speak – they need to hear all opinions and they are often sheltered from the Sadie Fields types here in Decatur.
Well, I saw on CNN than students protesting budget cuts were at the Georgia State Capital, joining thousands of protesting students, teachers and parents around the country. I don’t think our guys were part of he protests yet.
Clairemont students were at Capitol yesterday too. Governor wisely avoided meeting them in person because that group is feisty and might have wrangled some paraprofessionals out of him.
Some of you have evidently not experienced Mr. B, who is an excellent teacher, but whose views aren’t always what Decatur thinks it thinks.
Mr. B. seems awesome.. I don’t get it though. What does Decatur think it thinks?
man yall man need to chills out. jus some kids at the capital makin papa big doggin it. you know what im SAYINNNNN MAN.
You parents really need to cool down. Mr.B is probably the best teacher Decatur has ever had.
And it doesn’t matter if they meet a Dem. or Rep. it’s still a good experience.
I was on this trip and I thought it was an incredible experience. I was very impressed with everyone that I met and even though some of them didn’t have the same views that i did it was still great to hear them. Meeting sadie fields or not, it was so much fun and I am thrilled that I got the experience of seeing the capitol and meeting all the important people who work there.
I’m a student at Decatur High, and did participate in Georgia Close up. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had, and I really really appreciate all that Mr. B did to make the trip outstanding. I saw that, he wanted us to get the chance to meet anyone we could, because no matter who it is, it’s a good opportunity. I myself do not agree with Ms. Fields’s politics either, from what I know about her and her actions. But I truly appreciate having the chance to meet Ms. Fields. I think that it’s important to listen to all different kinds of point of views, and understand the opposing arguments. I want to point out, that although Decatur’s majority is liberal, that should not decide how we run school. There are students, who’s family and who themselves, are conservative. They should not be discriminated against because of the majority party. Someone mentioned Ms.Fields being sheltered as a young girl, but was mad that we met her. If we are criticizing her for having a sheltered point of view, we ourselves can’t shelter our children form other political views. I saw how hard Mr. Billingsley worked to make this experience as best as possible, and I appreciate all that he did. We had the opportunity to meet many people, with many views. I loved it.
I am a Decatur High School Student. I went on GA Close Up and had an excellent time. I personally am a Democrat. All the parents that are upset with children meeting a Republican need to be proud that kids got to meet with people that influence the law. Although I don’t agree with the views of Ms. Fields, i consider it an honor to meet someone who views are different from mine. Personally, i like hearing different views because it opens me up to the world. If we keep ourselves bottled up with only one view, then it is not right for us to judge anyone. What lessons are you teaching your kids saying that you should only hear from point of view. the world we live in today requires us to hear different points of views.
The kids are alright.
The kids make the parents look a little ignorant.
I am also a Decatur High School Student that went on Georgia Close Up. The trip was so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone. Even though I didn’t agree with some of the politicians that spoke to us, it was a very up front way of learning about different parts of our state government and how these peoples’ actions affect us. I’m really glad Mr. B took the time to set up all of these meetings and also that all of the different people we met took the time to actually be there and talk to us about their opinions and what they do.