Two lawmakers, state Sen. Mike Walsworth and state Rep. Katrina Jackson, spoke on campus last week to different groups of onlookers. 

Jackson gave an address on women’s history Thursday to students and faculty on her triumphs as a woman. 

“I’m still riding on the wings of ULM,” Jackson said, a university graduate. “You begin to praise a little university when it provides you with an impeccable education.” 

Jackson is a freshman legislator and said she looks forward to sponsoring and promoting legislation that gives women the same opportunities she had. 

She said ULM gave her the opportunity to work for then-state Rep. Willie Hunter, who taught her about law and helped her get her law degree.

Jackson also reminisced about her grandmother, Alice Jackson, who was an English professor at ULM for many years. She said her grandmother was her biggest role model and inspired her to achieve the many successes she has accomplished.

Walsworth addressed a group of parents, education majors and professionals Friday about education reform and the TOPS program.  

The crowd had a lot of questions concerning Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education reform plan. Walsworth said that he supports the voucher’s part of the plan but has reservations about other parts. 

“If it takes a voucher to get a failing kid out of a failing school, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Walsworth said.  “I am for vouchers.”

Walsworth says that vouchers can be used for poor students to attend private and charter schools. Private schools have selective admission, but charter schools have a lottery.  

He said the lottery will provide opportunities to poor students that were “just unlucky” to begin with and that they will finally be given a chance at a good education. 

“I hope we’re not leaving it up to chance,” said Walsworth.

Walsworth said he thinks promoters of the reform have done a bad job of “selling” the reform to teachers and the public.  He said teachers are their partners in the reform plan.  

Many public education teachers have voiced their concerns since the plan was announced. They are worried that this plan is nothing but teacher bashing. So far, no teacher’s unions or groups have supported this plan.

“I, personally, am disheartened by what’s happening in our education system,” said Stephanie Judd, a librarian at Boley Elementary. “I love Sen. Walsworth, and I do think he’s a friend of education. But, I don’t believe we’re headed down the right road.” 

Walsworth briefly touched on the TOPS program, saying Louisiana would keep the in-state scholarship program.