Students And Teachers Gather At State Capitol Against Consolidation

Teachers and schoolchildren from across the state gathered at the state Capitol this morning. They were there against school consolidation before Governor Huckabee`s 12:30 pm speech to a joint session of the Legislature. State Senator Jimmy Jeffress threw down the gauntlet. The Democrat from Crossett told teachers and schoolchildren that "the fight has just begun." Today is the opening day of a special legislative session on school reform. Arkansas is under a court order to reform its unconstitutionally poor public school system. The court has given legislators until January first to come up with a plan for change. Huckabee favors consolidating small, inefficient high schools to save money and increase course high school course offerings. ------ Among those gathered to protest consolidation is 11th grader Brittney Hanson of the Humphrey School District. Hanson made a sign, which reads "Let Us Be Huckabee." The Bearden School District brought more than 60 children to attend the anti-consolidation rally. Teacher Debbie Bowen said the event is a civics lesson for the children.