June 4, 2013
Yes, he did. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/06/04/mississippi-governor-educational-troubles-began-when-mom-got-in-the-workplace/">The Washington Post is reporting that our esteemed governor, Phil Bryant, blamed working mothers for the problems in the education system:
Bryant was participating in a Washington Post Live event focused on the importance of ensuring that children read well by the end of third grade. In response to a question about how America became “so mediocre” in regard to educational outcomes, he said:
"I think both parents started working. The mom got in the work place."
Bryant immediately recognized how controversial his remark would be and said he knew he would start to get e-mails. He then expanded on his answer, saying that “both parents are so pressured” in families today. He also noted that America seemed to be losing ground internationally in regards to educational outcomes because other nations began to invest more in their own school systems and make progress.
And folks are worried about Chokwe Lumumba's views.
Comments
Knowledge06 10 years, 10 months ago
Where is js1976 and THAT crowd? Phil Bryant is who people (the working poor and middle class black and white) should be concerned about. Add this comment to the one made earlier in the year about no one in Mississippi not having healthcare and his ignorance to what Medicaid's purpose is. Folk like Phil will keep ALL of Mississippi at the bottom of everything good!
Pilgrim3 10 years, 10 months ago
Then there's the thing about using umbilical cord blood to ID statutory rapists who get girls pregnant. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/...">http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/...
Then again, what can you expect from a barn full of hissing possums.
SusanM 10 years, 10 months ago
Ignoring for a moment that a lot of women want to have careers (just like the menfolk do!)... If Governor Bryant wants women to stay home with the kids, then he's going to have to support measures that will enable families to get by on one income. He can start by championing a much higher minimum wage.
And while I can believe that comment about working mothers came out of his mouth, I can't fathom what he was thinking when he said other nations were making progress because they are INVESTING MORE in their school systems.
Let's make that one a rallying cry. "Governor Bryant says we need more investment in education!" Time for the legislature to put a bill on his desk that would do just that.
justjess 10 years, 10 months ago
Maybe the Governor is speaking of his own family. Isn't it true that Mrs. Bryant is a High School Graduate and did not gaduate from a four year college? I know that family should be off limits in politics; however, a statement like this could not come out of anyone's mouth who didn't have something close to relate it to.
Shame on our Governor! Why not stop dumping your blame on "moms" and take responsibility for not being a strong push for investing in education in Mississippi.
tstauffer 10 years, 10 months ago
This may have been said elsewhere, but apparently Mrs. Bryant has been working at St. D's for over 37 years in a professional capacity. So I think he's talking about families other than his own in this case.
http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors...">http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors...
donnaladd 10 years, 10 months ago
Typical. As I said elsewhere, Phyllis Schlafly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_...">has crisscrossed the nation telling women to stay home and be content with inequality.
kdavis 10 years, 10 months ago
I strongly disagree with the Governor that working moms are the cause of our decline in education. Too many times, we are all guilty of trying to pinpoint one cause for a problem. The causes of our decline in education are far too complex and far too many to list in this short space. I was born in 1957 and both of my parents worked their whole life. In fact, my Mom was a bit of a pioneer in that she had a long successful career in banking long before those opportunities were available for all women. I think I turned out OK (Donna Ladd probably doesn't think so).
When Bryant tried to rebound from his erroneous comment though, he did say something that I do agree with, "both parents are so pressured". We are. If they gave you a price tag for the cost of raising a child before your baby was born, mankind would probably be extinct in 100 years. My wife and I both work. It takes everything that we make to keep our family afloat. We are not rich but our income is above average. Still, we have daily discussions with our daughters about the things that we need versus the things that we can do without. Parenting requires all of the energy from both of us both financially and emotionally. And we're the lucky ones because our children are healthy. My heart goes out to single parents and parents of children who have a debilitating disease or physical handicap. I don't see how you do it.
In closing, I think the Governor will get a reality check. It might even come from his own wife. Working Moms are here to stay and our society is much better because of this.
Duan 10 years, 10 months ago
I bet a million dollars - if he could state his case again - he would say to an extent this,
"The traditional roles of yesterday are gone - where there was a constant presence in the home - whether it was mom working during the day and dad working at night, there was a constant parental presence in the home. But in todays ultra competitive business world - you have people working extended hours, therefor you lose have a consistent presence in the home - regardless if its the mother or the father"
But to his credit, he knew he was not going to communicate his point in the most politically correct kind of way. Some people gave him the benefit of the doubt, as to some women, and some did not.
But if I was a feminist - Phil would be the least of my concerns - you propably should be on your p's and q's when it comes to women like Marsha Blackburn and Carly Fiorina.
js1976 10 years, 10 months ago
Phil Bryant sticks his foot in his mouth on a regular basis, but I really don't see the problem with this comment. Especially when you read his full statement and not just a couple of sentences.
Did I accidently click on Fox News?
js1976 10 years, 10 months ago
The true bias has now come forth! I am given the third degree for speaking out against a politician for his radical views, but let Bryant make a comment and you can't type fast enough!
Just so we are clear, I'm no fan of Bryant. However, I don't see the harm in his comment after reading his complete statement.
donnaladd 10 years, 10 months ago
You'll be fine, js1976. Just take a breath.
Duan 10 years, 10 months ago
I'm borrowing this from a blogger on MSN named M.R. - but they made an interesting point,
"Great, I'm glad to hear Phil Bryant is in favor of employers offering paid vacations, keeping the current "overtime pay" laws to discourage overworking employees and encourage additional hiring, and raising the minimum wage so that all income levels can live more comfortably off of fewer hours of work. I'm assuming that's the case and not that he's attempting to blame women for all of society's ills while benefiting from systemic inequalities that contribute to those problems. Because what a dk he'd be if that were the case."
That's an intresting take on the subject.
"Mississippi gov blames moms in the workforce for education troubles" retrieved from http://now.msn.com/phil-bryant-mother...">http://now.msn.com/phil-bryant-mother...
Blog entries
Miss. Chapter of NOW Insists that Gov. Bryant Apologize to Working Mothers by donnaladd 10 years, 10 months ago
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID