There have been a whole lot of critics voicing opposition to the Guilford County Schools new practice of busing students to the polls to vote, but at least one Guilford County Commissioner – Skip Alston – said this week that he’s more than fine with the practice, and he said it’s somewhat absurd that some of his fellow county commissioners do have problems with it.
Recently, the Rhino Times reported that, for the first time, the Guilford County school system would use school buses to take students to the polls to vote during class time. Several county commissioners – not to mention many other people – were taken aback by the plan. Once the article came out, many people voiced criticisms of the plan.
The critics’ points of contention cover a lot of territory. Some are concerned that the local educational system – often considered liberal-leaning – could explicitly or implicitly encourage the students to vote a certain way. Others say they’re concerned about the added cost at a time when the schools say they don’t have the money for even regular classroom activities. Other critics on social media asked why there seemed to be little to no oversight of the bus to vote initiative.
Apparently, none of the Guilford County commissioners knew ahead of time, and some, if not all, school board members also didn’t know about it.
Some critics consider such an important change to be something that should have come before the commissioners – or, at the very least, the school board.
Other county residents are arguing that, even if there’s no political persuasion of students going on, the schools are effecting a political end because younger voters, they say, would be more likely to vote for school bonds and also more likely to vote Democratic.
School system officials stated publicly this week that this trip is just like any other civic education field trip, and, when those take place, school board officials are not routinely notified. Also, they say, the school system is only getting non-partisan help in the effort and it’s bending over backwards to assure the mentors do nothing to attempt to sway how the kids vote.
While some Republican Guilford County commissioners have had a whole lot of questions about the process, Commissioner Alston said everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill.
He said that Republican county commissioners have kids in Guilford County Schools just like Democratic elected officials do.
“What? They don’t want their kids to vote?” Alston said of the Republicans.
He said that those students who are the children of Republican commissioners are likely to cast conservative votes.
“I love it,” Alston said of the schools busing students to the polls to exercise their right to vote.
He also said there was no reason for the school board to be informed about or approve the new program.
“The school board doesn’t know about all field trips,” he said.
Skip Alston knows this is not “just another field trip.”
Let’s see left wing teachers , left wingers registering the students and why was this not brought up at a board meeting and voted on . Who gave the ok for this to be done ? Why was there no notice to give parents a chance to voice our opions since taxpayers will be forced to pay the cost ? Another political play for power . To the School officials this is not like any other civic trip ,this trip has the potential to affect who oversees political input to certain jobs , we as taxpayers are not quite as dum as you think we are . These students can manage get to the polls on their on . That way they would not miss another day of education .
What grades will be bused? With an 18 year old voting age, it seems that only SOME seniors would have reached 18 and therefore be eligible to vote.
So…will only eligible voters be bused? Or others as well, to observe, or whatever?
Skip Alston, mentoring (busing) another generation forced to learn in our liberal schools
Seems to me that putting a bunch of young people with opposing political views on a bus to go vote is a recipe for disaster. Intimidation, bullying and mob mentality are almost guaranteed in this situation. Contrary to popular belief, Students regularly engage in these behaviors over a person’s dress or mannerisms, what will happen when you throw politics in the mix?
Why not just set-up voting stations at each eligible school? A kiosk and a couple of pop-up privacy booths and you’re done. That way ALL eligible students would have convenient access without having to ride a bus full of the opposition.
As for ‘non-partisian’ help (LMAO) we must realize that there’s NO way of ensuring that will be the case when the overwhelming majority of teachers/administration of GC schools are liberal/left leaning.
Will Skip Alston/GCS guarantee my child’s safety in this situation? Will he/they take personal, legal and financial responsibility if something happens to my child as a result of their political affiliation?
I think not.
Just another example of politicians using taxpayer money to control and indoctrinate young minds. Sickening.
I bet Skip does love it. As Khem Irby said: “72,000 students, what a PAC that makes”.
If Skip is okay with money being spent to bus high school kids to vote, I’d like to know if the schools in this district are currently in need of funds for their perspective schools. If not, I can understand his support, but if any of his schools are in need of books, repairs, etc., his support is possibly politically skewed.
Why did they use an out of town firm for this registration process? If these kids cannot fill out the form, “IF” they wanted to vote, then they shouldn’t be bussed to vote. They are about to graduate high school so surely they can do this without assistance.
Youcanvote.com is a firm associated with the the Durham People’s Alliance which is a radical left wing shop. All the Board members of youcanvote only give to dems (followthemoney.org). Why did they use this out of town firm? Keep this secret? This smells like election rigging.
I think that the schools cry for money to much to waste our money, when it could be used on needs for the schools. Candidates like Skip need to help the schools not hurt them. Parents could be responsible for their kids voting if they want their kids to vote.