// BREAKING // BARGE BACKED CRT, SEL, AND CASEL
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Embedding CRT into the teacher evaluation system
Not only was John Barge the architect of an evaluation system that blamed and shamed our teachers with test scores, but his system also opened up the door to CRT in our classrooms. Mandating 'Equity' in All Purchased Textbooks and Learning Materials While in office, John Barge required all Georgia school districts to only purchase and adopt new textbooks, instructional resources, and learning materials that aligned to Common Core. To be on the state-approved purchasing list, Barge also required all instructional materials to support "Equity", a concept Barge has called a backdoor to CRT on the campaign trail. Barge Promoted Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Georgia schools While Candidate Barge has called SEL as a backdoor to CRT, Superintendent Barge promoted the use of the national CASEL (SEL) standards and framework in afterschool programs across our state. From Common Core and CRT to SEL and CASEL, Barge has shown time and time again that he’ll say one thing to get elected and do another once elected. |
6 Reasons
Why Georgia Cannot Go Back to Barge
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Barge embraced the largest increase in high-stakes testing in our state’s history and drove teachers out of the profession.
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More Testing, Less Teaching. John Barge.
Under John Barge, Georgia embraced high-stakes tests for every single subject and course in our schools. These tests took away valuable instructional time from students and were used to rate and rank our teachers – making them flee the teaching profession en masse and compounding teacher shortages across our state. As Barge left office, Georgia was losing half of teachers by their fifth year. |
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Under the leadership of State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Georgia has seen the largest reduction in high-stakes testing in our state's history AND increased efforts to keep our teachers in the profession.
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Barge brought CRT, SEL, & CASEL directly into Georgia classrooms
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Embedding CRT into the teacher evaluation system
Not only was John Barge the architect of an evaluation system that blamed and shamed our teachers with test scores, but his system also opened up the door to CRT in our classrooms. Under John Barge, DOE fact sheets were developed and delivered to all Georgia teachers and school leaders in our state. One Barge-approved fact sheet specifically promoted CRT teachings in the state's evaluation system. Mandating 'Equity' in All Purchased Textbooks and Learning Materials While in office, John Barge required all Georgia school districts to only purchase and adopt new textbooks, instructional resources, and learning materials that aligned to Common Core. To be on the state-approved purchasing list, Barge also required all instructional materials to support "Equity", a concept Barge has called a backdoor to CRT on the campaign trail. Barge Promoted Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Georgia schools While Candidate Barge has called SEL as a backdoor to CRT, Superintendent Barge promoted the use of the national CASEL (SEL) standards and framework in afterschool programs across our state. From Common Core and CRT to SEL and CASEL, Barge has shown time and time again that he’ll say one thing to get elected and do another once elected. |
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As the first statewide elected official to come out against CRT, State School Superintendent Richard Woods has been clear: CRT has no place in our schools or classrooms. CRT will not be in Georgia's standards or evaluation systems. Georgia will not apply for grants that promote or advance CRT. Woods will partner with the legislature to ensure we protect our kids, empower our parents, and elevate our educators.
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Barge wasted millions expanding high-stakes tests and pushing Common Core into Georgia classrooms.
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Choosing Common Core over Common Sense. John Barge.
Under John Barge, Georgia fully adopted the Common Core standards – he even starred in a promotional video that was shared with teachers and school leaders across the state. As teachers were getting furloughed and school calendars shortened, Common Core further crippled our classrooms and disenfranchised Georgia’s parents. |
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State School Superintendent Richard Woods prioritized funding to give all K-12 teachers and support staff a $1,000 bonus AND Woods is ensuring Georgia-owned and Georgia-grown standards in our classrooms.
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Barge has a track record of not being a consistent conservative.
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Following the Whims of Washington. John Barge.
Under John Barge, Georgia embraced the failed education reforms of Obama and Arne Duncan – following the whims of Washington and allowing D.C. to micromanage our state’s education system. After a failed attempt at unseating a sitting Republican Governor, Barge even endorsed the Democratic candidate for State School Superintendent. |
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Time and time again, State School Superintendent Richard Woods has pushed back against Washington micromanagement and stood up for Georgia's students and teachers.
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Barge is more interested in running for higher office than leading Georgia’s schools.
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A Career Politician, Rather Than a Career Educator. John Barge.
Whether it’s running for Governor, then running for State School Superintendent, then running for U.S. Congress, and now running again for State School Superintendent, Barge has proven he's more interested in finding his next stepping stone to power than staying focused on supporting Georgia’s schools. Barge has run for public office four times over the past eight years, losing one primary after another. In fact -- when Barge was asked about his current filing to run for State School Superintendent, he first called it 'fixing a clerical error' and then stated he was 'undecided'. |
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Instead of seeking higher office, State School Superintendent Richard Woods has focused on leading Georgia's schools, fighting for teachers, and serving our students. Woods is a career educator with nearly thirty years of K through 12th grade experience in public education.
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Barge has taken thousands in campaign contributions from for-profit education companies and currently works for one.
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Paid for by Education Companies. John Barge.
During past failed bids for public office, John Barge received thousands in campaign contributions from education companies that profit off Georgia students and teachers. In fact – while superintendent, Barge paid tens of thousands of dollars to fly in an out-of-state consultant (who has a multi-million beach house on Cape Cod that was featured in Country Living magazine) and travel around Georgia to tell teachers how to teach. This same consultant’s wife then turned around and donated thousands of dollars to Barge’s campaign. Barge’s ethics issues continued when, as State School Superintendent, Barge took a trust fund established to support teachers and students and used it to fund overseas trips for himself and his political appointees – taking a $26,900 fund and draining it down to $2,200 in a little over a year. The head of Georgia’s Common Cause, a non-partisan watchdog group, even stated: “This is a shocking abuse of authority and misuse of funds appropriated for students. As he begins campaigning for State School Superintendent, he's also getting paid by an out-of-state, for-profit education company. When reaching out to school leaders and educators, they never know if Barge is asking for their votes or for their purchase orders -- or both! |
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Since day one, State School Superintendent Richard Woods has honored his pledge to not accept campaign contributions from for-profit education companies or out-of-state special interests -- a commitment he's kept for eight years. Under Woods, the education of our students will never be for sale.
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