Local News
LAE head calls comment controversy a "distraction"
Posted: Feb 3, 2012 2:38 PM by Russell Jones
Updated: Feb 3, 2012 2:38 PM
BATON ROUGE - The executive director of one of Louisiana's largest teacher's unions called recent controversy over comments he made about parents facing poverty a "distraction" from the real issue.
Michael Walker-Jones spoke to News 2 today in his first on-camera interview since the comments were published in a state newspaper.
He said today the attention being paid to the comments and him were taking away from the real issue of education reform in Louisiana.
Walker-Jones was quoted in the Times-Picayune as saying "If I'm a parent in poverty I have no clue because I'm trying to struggle and live day to day."
Gov. Bobby Jindal's office called for Walker-Jones to resign over the comments. Jindal and teachers unions have sparred in recent days over the governor's proposals for education reform, which include vouchers, changes to tenure rules and making it easier to found charter schools.
News 2's Mike Steele will have more from his interview with Walker-Jones tonight starting at 5 p.m.
