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To the Editor:

To State Senator Rusty Crowe and Rep. Renea Jones:

As you and other members of the Tennessee Legislature enter the 2025 Session, I wish each of you wisdom to make the proper decisions to guide our State into a successful future. In reviewing the work at hand, there are some proposals for which I would like to provide my input.

The move to tie the Education Freedom Act to disaster relief funding is hypocritical and a blatant political move to link a questionable issue to a benefit which, few if any, oppose. The fair and honorable thing is to have separate votes on each. Therefore, each piece of legislation would have to stand on its own merits.

The Education Freedom Act causes me concern in several different areas. First and foremost, my wife and I are against the public subsidization of religious education institutions. Providing vouchers to help fund education at private religious schools is a blatant violation of the separation of church and state. If parents wish to send their children to these institutions, we wholeheartedly support them. However, they need to bear the cost if they choose not to use the systems which are available to all students without religious and financial prejudice. As an aside, I am a Methodist and my wife is Roman Catholic. We are active in our churches and Debbie attended Catholic school through grade 4. Products of the public education system, both of us hold university degrees from state institutions (UTK & ETSU).

I realize there are certain school systems in Tennessee which are lacking in assets, staffing, and educational opportunities. Instead of pouring money into vouchers which will additionally benefit those who can afford private schools, why can’t this money be used to lift up these failing institutions which many times serve the disadvantaged and downtrodden.

To me, public education has led to the success and freedom which our state and our nation enjoy. In most cases, it has allowed individuals from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed with a good basic education. Also, students learn at an early age to work with others who may not be from the same economic or social strata.

Finally, I am adamantly opposed to any legislation which would allow the removal of fluorine from water systems. I know several local dentists and they fully support fluoridation of drinking water. One told me that its benefits were obvious as many individuals of his parents’ generation had partials or full dentures due to tooth loss. People in his generation (and mine) are inclined to have just fillings and crowns. He has noticed that his younger patients have no or few cavities or other dental issues. The big exception this dentist has seen are children and adults on private well water systems who tend to have poor oral health.

Your consideration and service are most appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

Joe L. Alexander

Elizabethton