James Morrow, Democratic Candidate for Georgia State School Superintendent

The North GA Blue: Getting into Good Trouble podcast covers democratic politics in North GA, the 9th Congressional District, and across the state of Georgia. The podcast is in Q&A/Interview format with various democratic politicos including county chairs, democratic operatives, politicians, and more. It is our mission to deliver crucial information to our listeners in a timely manner as we fight for community values and principles in the 3rd most Conservative district in the state. Our website is: https://www.fcdpga.com/podcasts

Our guests highlight democratic activities and actions to work toward a Blue Georgia. The 9th Congressional District spans 20 counties across the region and covers a good deal of northern GA including Blue Ridge, Morganton, Fannin, Union, Banks, Athens/Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, and White counties. 

Our democratic party podcast also disseminates information and interviews powerful Democrats across the state of GA working to overthrow the suppression tactics of the GOP and ensure democracy and our values, grassroots efforts, and goals remain intact. 

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Transcript

Meral Clarke: 0:17

Hello and welcome back to the North Georgia Blue Podcast produced and distributed by the Fannin County Democratic Party. I'm your host Meral Clarke and we're getting into some good trouble today with our guest James Morrow, Democratic candidate for State School Superintendent. Welcome to the show, James. We're happy to have you here.

James Morrow: 0:38

Thank you for having me. It's my pleasure.

Meral Clarke: 0:40

Well, terrific. Let's let our listeners know something about you. James Morrow Jr. was born in West Helena, Arkansas. James's father was a disabled veteran who fought in the Korean War. Thank you for his service. His mother is a retired teacher and coach who worked in the Arkansas school system for 39 years impressive. James attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on a basketball and track scholarship. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in physical education in 1997. After graduation, James took a job as the assistant men's basketball coach at Philander Smith College located in downtown Little Rock. While coaching college basketball, Mr. Morrow was enrolled at the University of Arkansas where he completed his master's degree in secondary education with an emphasis in history, economics, geography and government. James has been an educator and coach for over two decades. He has been a teacher in the Atlanta metro area for the past 16 years. Before relocating to Georgia in 2006, he had taught in Little Rock, Arkansas and Las Vegas, Nevada. Subjects taught by Mr. Morrow include AP United States history, AP Human Geography, American government, United States world affairs and economics and Phys. Ed James says it is His pleasure to try to help students become productive citizens in a global society, he has always had a genuine concern for the well being of his students and would like to see all of them become successful. In his free time he enjoys traveling and spending time with family. What free time James, between teaching full time and running for office, and I wanted to ask you, is this your first time running for political office?

James Morrow: 2:33

Oh, no. And 2016, I ran for state senate against partisan annotate, and 2018, I ran for the House of Representatives against Eric Thomas. But it was just me trying to figure out how to political game work. I always knew that I was meant to run for state superintendent, but I was just trying to figure out how politics work. So because really, nobody supported me. I was kind of low key and under the radar, but I just wanted to figure out how to work

Meral Clarke: 2:55

Well, terrific. And I'm sure you figured it out by now. So you're well on your way. So what made you decide to run for Georgia State School Superintendent this year?

James Morrow: 3:05

Well, after all the issues that I've seen in the school that I work in, you know, as far as the violence and the drugs, and I don't know if you ever saw on the news, but I want to say maybe a month ago, a student fired a weapon in the cafeteria, the school that I currently teach it. Yeah, so he shot a hole in the ceiling. And it just so happened, that kid was on probation for strong armed robbery. So I was telling my administrators, I don't feel like he should have been at a regular school setting, given the fact that he was on probation for such a violent crime. But it's like school is not school anymore, not what you remember. It's more violence, guns, sex, drugs, and there's no consequences for the things that the children do. And not only that the teachers are physically, mentally, emotionally and verbally abused by students, by parents and by certain administrators, and no one seems to care. So when I noticed there was a school board member from Gwinnett County running and then there was a school board member that was a dentist from Cobb County than a attorney and a former state representative. So I made my mind up, I should run because I'm a teacher and I represent teachers and I know how teachers feel I know what they think and I know what they're going through.

Meral Clarke: 4:14

Well, certainly you're well qualified in that area. And you have of course, stated that discipline and safety in our schools, which you've just elaborated on, is a vital issue for you. What would you do to stem all these issues and problems that teachers and school systems are facing today?

James Morrow: 4:31

Currently, at my school, we have approximately 1600 students for one school resource officer. I feel like every 500 students, you should have at least three officers. This man, he basically patrols the whole school by himself, you know, and if he's taking care of something outside, something goes on in the building, then It's total chaos. So I just feel like that's one way. Two, we need somebody patrolling all the parking lots. Maybe somebody just retired riding around the golf cart in the parking lot with us. We constantly have kids leaving and coming back on campus, and we don't know what they're bringing on campus, three, we need functioning metal detectors, not just something that's just sitting there for show, but something that actually works. And random searches. I remember when I first moved to Georgia, a lot of times they would have students exit the classroom, and leave their bags and belongings in the classroom, let me bring the dogs to smelling for objects or drugs or whatever. So that's another way but it's like school is turned to business, it seems to be all about money. And nobody really cares about the children and learning. Most middle school teachers are forced to give kids 50% just for putting their names on paper. A lot of people don't know that. And because of COVID, most kids are two and a half years behind because doing virtual when it first started, most of them wouldn't log in wouldn't turn in any work, you know, administrators telling us to show compassion, and just give them grades. So basically, you got a kid that might have a 35, they ended up with a 70. Because the administrators asked you to do so.

Meral Clarke: 5:53

Yeah, that sounds like a very difficult problem. And how will you address the relentless mental, physical, emotional and verbal abuse that teachers receive from students, parents and administrators on a daily basis, because I have friends who are teachers, and both the Cobb County and Gwinnett County School Systems, and I hear every day from them how difficult their jobs are, and how teachers are leaving in droves, leaving the profession good teachers that are leaving the profession on a daily basis as well. So how would you address that problem? How would you help the teachers?

James Morrow: 6:27

Well, one, we got to have more severe consequences for the students. I'm not saying lock anyone up. But yes, there's a college student on a Monday smoking marijuana, but I kind of wish they haven't six, the only thing he received was one day in school suspension. My day, you got caught doing something like that, you would be expelled, you end up having to go to alternative schools setting, but it's about the dollars, you know, they give seven $8,000 per student federal funding. And if that student miss more than 10 days, they have to return that federal funding back. So they tolerate the foolishness, but at the same time, that causes problems for the teacher. So I will make sure that there will be some type of consequences for the things that students are doing, instead of just a slap on the wrist. Again, I'm not saying lock anyone up. But it has to be more severe consequences. But the things that children are doing, especially as far as they talk to their teachers. And as far as parents, parents, they come into school, wanting to fight and curse teachers out, basically, because the teacher might have called and said that she hasn't been doing any work, and then come back and get upset and start screaming and irate and demonstrating hostile ways towards that teacher. So I wouldn't say like the parent up. But a lot of times, that might be the only case. I mean, there's a lot of things that go on in the schools that people don't understand. You have kids that don't receive any food until they come to school for breakfast, and lunch. A lot of times I have athletes that can't come to practice, because they got to go home and babysit their little brother and sister because their mother works graveyard shift, and they don't have a father at home. So I mean, there's a lot of things that kids go through that people don't really understand. And a lot of these things are adult problems. And these are children that's trying to maneuver their way through this lifestyle building.

Meral Clarke: 8:05

So teachers receive an onslaught of this behavior every day plus not being paid well enough for what they do. What do you feel we have to do to ensure teachers are paid adequately for their work?

James Morrow: 8:17

Well, they're always saying that there's no money, but I'm sure there's some money to be found somewhere. But it's not whenever the wind blows, legislators vote to cut funding from education. But I would propose every teacher receive anywhere from five to$7,000 raise. If you look, the governor just gave us a $2,000 bonus, but they're going to tax it. So that $2,000 We're probably only received 13 or 1400. But I feel like those bonuses to teachers receive should be tax free.

Meral Clarke: 8:45

I agree. And also, if it's part of their salary, they won't have to be taxed on it so heavily versus bonuses. So let's talk about what's going on across the country right now with Republican legislators who have passed laws about not teaching what they term as divisive concepts, including the don't say gay bill in Florida, and of course, anything having to do with the racial divide, not to mention the fact that they're banning books, books that are classics literature that we all grew up reading, and certainly had to read in our advanced placement classes and throughout college. So what are your thoughts on that? And how would you send that from happening in our school system? Now? What would you do to ensure that these concepts are still readily available for our students to expand their critical thinking skills and make sure that they actually have a solid educational foundation?

James Morrow: 9:37

Well, I would make sure that all the things that need to be taught are taught I mean, to me, I feel like it's taken away from freedom of speech, freedom of expression as violating people's constitutional rights by forcing them to tell them what they can teach and what they can't teach. So, in my opinion, as long as it's not teaching racial tensions or teaching people to go against each other, I don't see a problem with it being taught.

Meral Clarke: 9:58

Well, what about teaching actual history? I know that when I was growing up, I didn't learn the truth or facts about slavery, it being so horrendous and horrible. The textbooks were incorrect and still are in most cases. And I never learned about the terrors and horrors of slavery. And I also learned that the Civil War was about states rights now old enough to have not learned any of these concepts. So what are your thoughts on making sure that students are taught actual historical fact and concepts versus the, I would say Republican whitewashed version of these events?

James Morrow: 10:37

Racism has always been a normalized feature in American society, and it's never gonna go away. People are going to always feel like that, white society did other races this certain way. And I just feel that started, people in white society want it to go away, and they don't want younger generations to know what went on. It's like you said they want to wipe it out of the history books. But you can't do that, even though it's a bad part of American history. It's still American history, and it should be taught

Meral Clarke: 11:04

But what do you think about all these laws that Republicans are passing that says you can't make white students feel discomfort or uncomfortable

James Morrow: 11:12

Let's vote them out of office.

Meral Clarke: 11:14

Yes, let's vote them out of office.

James Morrow: 11:16

Because there's not you know, why do you want to hide it? I mean, basically, it all makes sense. I can somewhat living in harmony, you know, and just want to be happy. You know, COVID brought a lot of problems and issues and expose a lot of things a lot of people didn't realize was going on and took COVID It

Meral Clarke: 11:31

Right, exactly. And we'll get to that in just a moment. But I did want to ask you, presuming that Georgia has general assembly is going to remain heavily red and heavily Republican, how would you, as State School Superintendent work with a right wing legislature to ensure that these concepts are being taught in school and that our students are receiving an actual factual quality education? How would you do that?

James Morrow: 11:56

I would meet with them maybe in a group or maybe individually and let them know that these things should be taught. And they should not be here to keep away from the students. And if you don't agree with me that I have to put you on blast and let everybody know that you're a guest.

Meral Clarke: 12:09

Okay. But in all fairness, Democratic legislators are confronting Republicans with these facts and with these issues, and they've been unable to,

James Morrow: 12:20

or there's not enough Democrats.

Meral Clarke: 12:21

Yeah, that's it, isn't it? That's exactly it. So the solution is to vote blue, and make sure that we have more Democrats, both in statewide office and in our state legislature to ensure these concepts are taught. So moving on, tell us how COVID has impacted students and teachers as well across the state. And what would you do as school superintendent to rectify these issues?

James Morrow: 12:46

You know, it's hard just to get up and coming to work at the COVID Hitting when it first hit, we taught from home for like a year and a half, then we had to go back. And a lot of teachers have a lot of anxiety because they don't feel comfortable. Because many of the students even though it was mandated to wear masks at the time I went back, they really didn't do it, but I'm in the gym now. And I have 59 students, and I'm gonna tell you, we probably like five teachers short. So whenever they came on a sub field position, guess what they doublemint in the gym. So I could be in the gym by myself, like 250 students. And you know, I try to do my part by checking temperatures, you know, giving mass kids to want to wear masks and trying to make sure that they isolate. But it's kind of part of social distance, when you got over 200 students in the gym, by yourself. But we have a shortage of teachers in Clayton County, there's over 200 teaching positions that need to be filled, and then they try to fill it with permanent, long term subs. I mean, it's it's a mess right now. The best way to fix it, we got to find a way to make a competent teacher important again. It's a very noble profession, but nobody really wants to get into it because of the way students and parents treat the teachers, the way administrators treat the teachers. So this is like education is not the same. And I'm not gonna lie to you. If I recently started teaching two or three years ago, I'd probably be looking for another profession. But since I've been in this game for 25 years, it's kind of too late in the game to do something else. So I felt like I needed to step up and speak for teachers. To get my name on the ballot. I had to pay $3,698.10 I don't have a lot of money like that, because I'm a teacher. But I try to save, at least a year's worth of bill money. So that way in case I lose my job for snatching the kid up with something, I still be able to pay my bills for the next year. So I took like three months worth of my mortgage. And that's basically how I got my name on the ballot. So I'm sure many teachers would be able to relate to that.

Meral Clarke: 14:39

Wow. And all that money goes into the state coffers, correct? Yes. Okay. So that's quite hefty of a fee to have to pay simply to run. That's why you don't have a lot of people running. Right, exactly, because it's expensive to run and you sort of have to have the money to start with in order to be successful in politics. So Oh, how would you work with administrators on the ground administrators who are struggling with all the school systems throughout our state all 159 counties, when it comes to public education? How would you work with them to ensure that discipline is provided in the schools and proper disciplinary procedures?

James Morrow: 15:20

I will meet with them in the beginning of the year, and just let them know that money is not everything. You know, I know a lot of you want to keep the kids here, because it brings money into your school into your school district. But in the beginning of the year, examples must be made, you know, they want to wait until the end of the year to start suspending students. But when they do things wrong, like when we come back in August, and September, you know, your top 10 habitual offenders, you got to get them out of there, you got to make examples out of them, and send them to alternative school setting or wherever they need to go to make sure that your students feel safe. And they're able to learn an environment that's conducive to learning. And they don't have to worry about any violent attacks. So that's one way that I would explain to the administrators that they need to focus more on policing the children, instead of policing the teacher.

Meral Clarke: 16:06

Where do you draw the line with that, because when you say policing, the children, a lot of parents would understandably, look askance at that viewpoint. So how would you convince the parents that this discipline is necessary?

James Morrow: 16:19

Well, discipline should start at home. Teachers shouldn't really have to deal with this when your child should have discipline when they walk through the front doors of the school. But they don't, as you and I both know. So parents need to be held more accountable for the actions of their children. And I don't know what type of punishment we can issue to the parents, but something has to be done, because it's basically the home training, and how the child is raised. For example, I hear students tell them to shut up or tell them, they are lying. If I said something like that, to my mind when I was at school, I've been picking my face up off the floor. Absolutely, yes. So if they talk to their parents like that, you know, they don't have any respect for their teach. So that's one thing that we have to deal with. We have students, we have a lot of students that own jugs. So we need some type of rehab and anger management programs for the students. Because you know, out here in elementary school, you have a lot of students that attack their teachers and throw items at them, and chairs at them.

Meral Clarke: 17:21

So it's really scary. So what are your thoughts on parents showing up at school board meetings and dictating to teachers and administrators as to what should be taught in the school system when they really don't know the history themselves or don't have the knowledge necessary?

James Morrow: 17:38

Parents are speaking off emotions, when they do that, because they're angry about something that a child has done or hasn't done to or for their child. So I mean, parents should be allowed to attend school board meetings, when they have a suggestion of something that shouldn't be meaningful. It shouldn't be something that just flies off their hip, because they're angry about something. I feel like they should, since you said that I feel like also at least one if not two, teachers should be on every school board in every school district in Georgia, because you have people creating policy and send agendas. There's never been in the education field. So how do they understand what's going on, even though there's certain school district has a policy that states that you can't be on the school board if you're employed by the school district? And I'm sure they can rewrite that and change it if they wanted to.

Meral Clarke: 18:22

Right, because individual school boards at the local level are so important. What are your thoughts on vouchers being provided for charter schools versus public school education, which Republicans are continually trying to erode in favor of private schools? What are your thoughts on that?

James Morrow: 18:40

Well, you know, you have some charter schools that are under a public school umbrella. So I really don't have a problem with that. But if it's a private charter school, then I feel like no public school funding, or government finance should go to those schools, we want to go to a private school, and I feel like your parents, you'd have to pay similar to like the students to go to Woodward Academy, you're going to Woodward Academy, I think it cost like 27,000 a year, when you take money from public schools, you're hurting the public schools, and the resources that they can have for the students. Now, some people feel like charter schools are better, but most of those teachers are not fully certified. They don't have to be licensed by the Department of Education. They didn't have to major in the education field. They could get like an alternative license and teach. So they're not really fully certified teachers. But again, charter schools, they can pick and choose who they want to keep. At the same time, public schools can't because the numbers are dwindling, because when students leave and go to charter schools, that's why they're not willing to kick out the habitual offenders because they need those kids to make up for the numbers of kids. It's leaving going to charter schools.

Meral Clarke: 19:44

That makes sense and what are your thoughts on the lack of equity across educational outcomes and inequity across our school systems? How do we resolve that?

James Morrow: 19:54

No one wants to take accountability for anything, most school systems. They depend on the ignorance of parents And the fear of teachers, but to call them to the carpet to do anything, like no one wants to take the blame, but somebody has to. And I just feel like I will be the man. That would be the one to take the blame this education is not successful in Georgia, I just want to see the kids flourish. I feel like everybody's not made for college. I feel like we need vocational schools. So when kids don't want to do the geometry, and trigonometry and the physics and all that they want to work with their hands, and they want to drive an 18 wheeler. So when a kid graduated from high school, I would like to see them have their CDL license, or their electrician license, or the carpenter or welding or something to that effect. That way, they're still able to make money and take care of support their families. Like right now, we're pushing everybody to go to college. Everybody's not college material. So we got to find a way to help students as far as that so

Meral Clarke: 20:52

So more technical schools, and is that something that you can do as State School Superintendent?

James Morrow: 20:57

Well, I can suggest it that I can find money and write grants, the State Superintendent basically shares control with the board members of department education, as each and every school district basically sets their own agenda, but they go off the suggestions from the state superintendent, I can't really tell them what to do.

Meral Clarke: 21:15

Gotcha. Okay. But you could certainly persuade and push.

James Morrow: 21:20

Or you could take take money away, too.

Meral Clarke: 21:23

There you go. Money talks, right? That would definitely help. Well, this has been great. Is there anything else you want to cover that I haven't asked you today?

James Morrow: 21:33

I'm gonna give you an example of what teachers go through. When I first moved to Atlanta. I was the athletic director. I had football hit, boys basketball hit boys track. I was at Sylvan Hill Middle School seventh row. And I told the principal, I said, I'm not failing middle school anymore. This is 678 kids off the chain. I'm going to tell High School. And this is what teachers go through on a daily basis. She told me with a big smile on her face. Go Anywhere, Coach Morrow. You're one of my shining stars. You wear too many hats at my building. I didn't think nothing of it. My last evaluation of the year, this lady gave me 11 needs improvement. Just forced me to stay there.

Meral Clarke: 22:10

Oh, my goodness, they can force you to stay?

James Morrow: 22:13

Yes. Because when you want to transfer within a school district, like I was an APS, and I was wanting to leave Seven Hills middle to go to Thoreau High School, which is in Atlanta public schools. And she took blocked me, she tried to put me on a professional development plan. A professional development plan wasn't an administrative put you on a professional development plan. You can't transfer within the district. So I was so upset that she did that to me that I resign. And I took like a$10,000 pay cut. And I went to Clay County school. So I just want to talk about that. Because these are the things that people don't know that teachers have to go through. They either give you a bad evaluation, because they want to run you away. But they give you a bad evaluation because they want you to say, so it's like you're damned if you do damned if you don't.

Meral Clarke: 22:56

I'm glad you did, because I was not aware of that situation. And I doubt that most people are outside of the school environment,

James Morrow: 23:05

That teachers don't stand up. Because most teachers don't make a whole lot of money. Most of them will check the check. So when something happens, they just took their child and walk away. I'm one of the guys well, I'm not going to discuss it. But if he wasn't going to Google and typing in James Morrow, North Clayton High School, you will see why I filed a lawsuit against Clay County Schools in 2014. I can't discuss it because they made me sign a confidentiality agreement. But I stand up for myself and I encourage other teachers to stand up for themselves. You know, all you got to do is file a complaint with human resources. A lot of teachers are too afraid to do it, because they feel like they would be attacked. But now that have stopped administrators from always pressing on your neck. If you file a complaint with equity and compliance, or the human resource department.

Meral Clarke: 23:49

Oh my goodness, that is staggering, staggering situation.

James Morrow: 23:53

Teachers not going to talk about it because they don't want the administrators that know they're talking about

Meral Clarke: 23:58

it. Well, is that something you can change a State School Superintendent?

James Morrow: 24:01

That is something I'm going to change. Okay, that would be great.

Meral Clarke: 24:05

So finally, James, if someone wants to volunteer with your campaign, get involved, donate, etc. Where would you send them?

James Morrow: 24:12

I can't reach me vote tomorrow for no tomorrow on my Facebook, or they can email me the same email you have Nicholas Morrow 1911 at gmail and I'll get right

Meral Clarke: 24:22

back to him. And that's M O R R O W Correct.

James Morrow: 24:27

Just like Morrow GA.

Meral Clarke: 24:28

Terrific. Well, that makes it easy. And last but not least, tell us a fun fact about yourself something just about you that doesn't necessarily have to do with your campaign or even teaching. Tell us something fun about James that we may not know.

James Morrow: 24:44

I love working out with my kids. I have a 14 year old and a seven year old and I like to work out and play basketball with him. You know I'm 47 years old and I got to stay at this I can be able to keep up with them especially

Meral Clarke: 24:58

the seven year old right Are you and are they both basketball prodigies because of you has

James Morrow: 25:04

basketball and baseball once a year, he plays for the Georgia bombers 14 on the team. And my youngest son he plays was part New York Yankees.

Meral Clarke: 25:13

Fantastic. Well, that Apple hasn't gone far from that tree. So kudos to you for raising your kids with those athletic abilities. And it's so important to be part of teams, isn't it? Because you've learned a lot of self discipline and teamwork and working with diverse folks that way. So that's wonderful. Well, thank you, James, for joining us today and sharing more about your critical work to support Georgians and maintain our educational public school systems.

James Morrow: 25:40

Happy to be here. Check out my interview with Elevn Alive was supposed to be coming out Friday I had with Miss Diaz. She did a 30 minute interview with me

Meral Clarke: 25:49

Fantastic Well, I'm Meral Clarke and on behalf of our team, I'd like to thank everyone for listening to the North Georgia Blue Podcast. Join us next time when we chat with Currey Hitchens, also running for Georgia school superintendent. To learn more about us and the work that we're doing, visit us online at Fannin County, Georgia democrats.com Share the North Georgia Blue Podcast with your friends and family be sure to subscribe and follow and if you enjoy our podcast be a founding patron and friend of the show at North Georgia blue podcast.com/patron Now with three different giving levels to choose from offering cool swag recognition on the show and website and valuable gift cards to help us continue getting into more good trouble.