A newly elected state representative says he believes one of the top issues for him is school choice.
State Rep.-elect Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) represents District 7 after defeating incumbent Proncey Robertson (R-Mount Hope) in the Republican primary, and then winning the November general election with more than 75% of the vote.
Yarbrough recently discussed why he’s so passionate for school choice during an appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”
“I think it’s really important that parents be acknowledged that as the God-given caretakers and providers of their children, and that they have the final say in what they feel like is going to be good for the mind, body, and soul of their kids,” Yarbrough said.
The newly elected lawmaker said he believes America is about being able to make choices, and he thinks that should extend to parents having more options when it comes to their child’s education.
“In America we’re built on this unique idea,” he said. “You know, in Egypt they built the pyramids where it would go to one point at the top, and it was done in part because pharaoh wanted to reinforce that he was at the top and everybody else has to look up to him and do whatever he says. Well, in America we have this unique idea where we invert the pyramid and we build on the basis of that point at the bottom of individual rights and freedoms and then as you go up it gets wider and wider and more people get involved and have a say to ultimately protect individual rights.
“And so I thought that we need to honor parents, we need to honor our children.”
Yarbrough said that the best way to help improve education in the state is to “empower” parents.
“(T)here’s no question that education is a battlefield right now for the minds and souls of our kids,” he said. “And so I think it’s important that we empower parents with the God-given freedoms and rights to protect their kids and make the choice that they believe is the best for their children’s mind, body, and soul.”
Yarbrough also said he’s not just focused on educational freedom, but also medical freedom, especially after the pandemic.
“I ran on a passion of things like medical freedom because I had friends who lost their jobs who served during COVID in the medical profession in my county, my district,” he said. “So medical freedom is something that’s important to me, and the right to make choices for ourselves.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
