Hohensee: Lasky's Accusations are Wrong

By Doris Hohensee/State Senate Candidate

Incumbent state Senator Bette Lasky lashed out this week against me, claiming in a fundraising letter that I am “a mouthpiece for Bill O’Brien’s radical agenda.”

As chairwoman of the NH Families for Education, I worked collaboratively with both parties during Speaker O’Brien’s tenure to build opposition to the central piece of the Speaker’s education agenda, a constitutional amendment designed to eliminate Local Control of education. The Speaker’s legislation, CACR 12, was narrowly defeated by 20 votes due to the bipartisan coalition which I worked very hard to build.

Lasky should do her homework before making accusations that have no basis in fact. This should be a positive campaign. I invite Lasky to set a date to discuss the issues in person rather sending out a mudslinging letter.

I am running for state Senate to bring attention to the radical federal education agenda that Lasky has failed to oppose during her tenure. It’s undermining local control in our schools.

Parents and teachers unions are speaking out against the failed ”test, blame and punish” system that dominates our schools. We must end the abuse and overuse of high stakes standardized tests and reduce the amount of student and instructional time consumed by them. The impact of excessive testing is particularly harmful to poor, minority and special needs students.

Student needs, not corporate profits, should be at the center of our education agenda.

Doris Hohensee is a candidate for state Senate.