GREENVILLE, Miss.–Greenville Public Schools was one of two districts to get an “F” grade this year. That has provided some supreme embarrassment for State Rep. Willie Bailey (D), who represents the city in the state legislature.
“Don’t y’all tell me that you don’t have anything to do with the school board,” said Bailey, berating the city council at Tuesday’s meeting. “As city fathers and city mothers you are responsible!”
Bailey was one of a group to address the council, which also included his colleague, Rep. John Hinds.
But, Bailey was especially upset, citing several reasons.
“When industry gets ready to come to a community the first thing they do an assessment of is the schools, and if you’ve got a failing school system they don’t even look at you,” he said.
He also said the district has embarrassed him.
“I raise hell down there in the State of Mississippi legislature. I cannot have any legitimacy raising hell about the conditions of the state of education in this state if my district is an F!”
He also laid blame on parents, pastors and the community at large, asking where their pride is.
