Betty Peters

Alabama state school board member slams AEA head

July 24, 2008
Dothan Eagle

Red meat was on the menu at a Houston County Republican women’s group luncheon Thursday as state school board member Betty Peters slammed

Alabama Education Association head Paul Hubbert, called for the elimination of the Fair Dismissal Law and talked up a Republican candidate for the district 5 state school board seat.

Peters gave a brief speech in which she outlined the state of Alabama’s education system according to her point of view.

Peters praised Alabama College Chancellor Bradley Byrne for his work in reforming the two-year college system in the aftermath of nepotism scandals that led to the conviction of former chancellor Roy Johnson. Peters said Byrne was a strong leader willing to make hard decisions and face down the powerful teacher’s union on the matter of a double-dipping ban that bars legislators from holding jobs in the college system.

“He’s not scared of Paul Hubbert,” Peters said. “I think Paul Hubbert is scared of him.”

According to Peters, the AEA has funded candidates hostile to reforming Alabama’s education system. Peters called for the elimination of the Fair Dismissal Law, which she says impedes accountability among Alabama’s educators. “It’s so hard to fire a bad teacher,” she said.

She also called for a law forbidding romantic relationships between public school teachers and students.

Peters took time during her speech to praise Lula Bridges, a candidate for the district 5 board of education seat currently held by Democrat Ella Bell.

Bridges spoke to the group about the need for values like personal responsibility and high standards in education.