This year’s race for State School Superintendent will be a repeat of four years ago. Speaking outside the Sloppy Floyd Building and home of the Georgia Department of Education, former Superintendent John Barge announced Sunday that he is seeking his old job and is challenging incumbent Richard Woods because he “can’t sit idly by and let this happen to our kids.”
John Barge
“Our campaign is driven by passionate Georgians ready to restore, rebuild, and renew our education,” said Barge. “I am not happy with the direction of our school systems, and I am sure you aren’t either. Our schools should be a place to tell our children how to think and not what to think. Our children need to achieve academic excellence. Folks, we are teaching the next generation of leaders. I can’t idly sit by and let this happen to our kids.”
Both Barge and Woods are seeking the Republican nomination. The winner is expected to face Democratic Cobb County school board member Dr. Jaha Howard in the General Election next November.
Critical Race Theory is emerging as a key issue for Barge, who served as the state’s top school chief from January 10, 2011 until 2015. He chose not to seek re-election then, but to run for Governor against then incumbent Governor Nathan Deal in the Republican Primary. Barge also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary in 2020.
“Let’s be clear; there is Critical Race Theory in our state and it’s happening under my opponent’s direction,” said Barge. “Martin Luther King said ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.’ CRT does the opposite of this. Critical race theory divides our children.”
Barge lists rebuilding the Georgia Department of Education as one of his three major issues. The other two are renewing trust in the school system and restoring the foundation.
“Our parents have lost trust in the school system, and that is an issue,” said Barge. “A school’s first priority and obligation should be to the student and then the parents. There needs to be transparency in curriculum so parents know what is being taught to their kids.
“Our children are being exposed to obscene and pornographic material in the school setting and the current administration is ignoring it while parents are unaware,” added Barge. “There needs to be accountability in tax dollar spending. We want to encourage parent involvement and guard against indoctrination and political engineering.
Barge claims the current DOE “ignores the issues brought up by teachers, administrators, and parents.”
“We need to rebuild the system from the inside out so we can become a resource for teachers when they need it. We want to provide leadership, cover, and framework for districts to create their sound policies. Teachers and administrators should be able to rely on the department and parents should have faith in it.”
As for restoring the foundation, Barge says. “A school is not the place for personal politics. A school’s job is to teach students how to think, not what to think.” He goes on to say that the state needs to focus on expanding career and technical education to allow more options for students after graduation.
