League speaker to address school voucher proposal on Jan. 7

Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher proposal, which would provide public money for private schools to thousands of Tennessee students and which was voted down by state lawmakers last session, is the topic of a talk on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 12 noon during the Lunch with the League meeting of the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

Marsha Livingston, a retired teacher, will speak on the school voucher program proposed for all 95 Tennessee counties. She taught French and math at Clinton Junior High School for 10 years and then at Anderson County High School for 23 years.

The public is invited to attend the Lunch with the League from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. All are welcome to bring their lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for a nominal fee. Coffee and tea will be served.

Livingston will provide updates on the two voucher bills that have already been considered by the Tennessee General Assembly and information about the most recent voucher legislation that was filed the day after the Nov. 5 election.

She will then summarize some of the recent research on vouchers that indicates how harmful they are to society and education in general.

“I will conclude my talk by sharing my personal discovery of the ‘alternative facts’ about public education and voucher research,” she said, “Finally, I will recommend actions that members of the audience might want to pursue.”

The Oak Ridge Board of Education, the Oak Ridge City Council, the Anderson County Board of Education, the Clinton City Board of Education and the Anderson County Commission all issued resolutions early in 2024 opposing the state’s proposed voucher program.

The League of Women Voters of the U.S. (and LWVTN and LWVOR) has released a position statement against the use of public vouchers and funds for private education. It is part of the League that is advocacy. 

Lunch with the League welcomes League members and nonmembers alike to this informative presentation. 

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge is a nonpartisan political organization for women and men. It encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.