Who's that? Why it's Powell's Republican Representative Andy Brenner, the new chairman of the House Education Committee.
Rep Brenner is an outspoken conservative charter school supporter tasked with leading a legislative committee on policy issues to ensure equal educational opportunities for Ohio's children.
He has shown an interest in assuring that Ohio's children are not over-tested. He sponsored a bill a few years back that sought to limit assessments to four hours per subject per year. This was more testing for some subjects at the time. He then got on board with the push for 3 hour tests and the elimination of PARCC.
Here's a Plain Dealer article that quotes Andy on testing...
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/state_cuts_math_and_english_te.html
Anyone who follows Rep Brenner on Twitter or Facebook can attest to his being a bit of a reactionary. He even took time out of his schedule to call and yell at me when I criticized his 4 hour plan. "Do you even know what the bill does!!" I did know. I'm not even in his district and yet he took time out of his busy afternoon to argue with me about my conflicting viewpoint. At least I know he's paying attention.
More frightening, however, was Brenner's recent comparison of Planned Parenthood to Nazi Germany. I am appalled by this attempt to demonize for several reasons. First, because I disagree with Rep Brenner on the politics of the issue, and in general on the idea of politicizing the issue of health care, which I believe is a human right. Furthermore, to use Nazi Germany is the most predictable, terribly unoriginal, and insulting rhetorical hyperbole at his disposal. Rep Brenner is welcome in my public school any time to learn more about the tenets of National Socialism in order to better intellectualize his opinions in the future.
Here's a piece on Andy's take on Planned Parenthood...
http://www.plunderbund.com/2015/07/23/state-rep-andy-brenner-compares-planned-parenthood-to-nazis/
And, of course, Brenner has equated public education to "socialism." (He assumes, I suppose, that we all consider socialism to be a bad thing) At the time, he believed that a move to a privatized system is better. Called out on the issue, he backpedaled a bit.
Here's Brenner's take on the evils of socialism, I mean public education...
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/19/legislators-school-views-rankle-some.html
So, should we supporters of public education be afraid. Perhaps, but I'm going to go with cautious. I don't anticipate a dramatic shift toward wholehearted support of public schools, but in light of a legislative response to the citizenry's demand to remedy assessment issues, and the more recent passage of charter school reform, I would hope that Representative Brenner would be more responsive to the public and less combative.
On accepting his new position he said, "I am passionate about making sure that every child in this state has equal access to an excellent public education, and am excited to have this opportunity.”
He sounds up for the job, or like a consummate bullshitter.
Either way, let's welcome Representative Brenner to his new position, and let him know what we think his priorities should be going forward...
Find him on Facebook here...
https://www.facebook.com/BrennerForOhio
Twitter... @andrewbrenner
Or contact him at the office...
77 High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
rep67@ohiohouse.gov
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