Education That Puts Our Children First
As a parent of a child educated in public schools, I am committed to restoring the civic mission of our founders in the public education system, including our culture and values. I support charter schools and home school programs. The rights of the homeschoolers should be protected without government prejudice or interference. Educating our next generation is a monumentally important task. I support and thank educators for the work they do to help our children learn. It’s a noble profession that doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I support merit pay for good teachers, classroom discipline, parental involvement and reject social promotion through rewriting of our school text books, with an agenda. Teachers must be protected against frivolous litigation and time consuming paperwork. Teacher pay is controlled by the states, not the federal government. However, because I know they sacrifice financially to fulfill their calling, I support teacher tax relief efforts and credits for training if they wish to expand their area of expertise.
While the intent of No Child Left Behind is an honorable one, I don’t believe a distant federal bureaucracy can best meet the individual needs of a child in Hendersonville or in Murfreesboro. If our children are to compete in the global economy their parents are the best judge of their progress, not a Washington bureaucrat. States must build on the basics of a sound education. I support merit pay for good teachers, classroom discipline, parental involvement and reject social promotion through rewriting of our school books, with an agenda.
Ultimately, it is about our children and we should put their interest above narrow views. I support choice in education for families, whether through charter schools, vouchers or tax credits for faith-based schools, or to home school. I support the right of students to engage in voluntary prayer in schools. I am opposed to schools asking children to answer offensive or intrusive personal non-academic questions without parental consent.
Our Constitution does not give the federal government a role in local education, yet Washington’s authority over our schools has increased dramatically. Annual federal funding and mandates have shot up almost 50% in less than 10 years. I support block grant funding to the states with state level standards, assessments and reporting. The regulatory burden on states and local governments is costing millions. Local educators must be free to end ineffective programs and reallocate where needed.
Bringing accountability, flexibility, and choice to our schools are vital to achieving results in our classrooms. It is time public, private and home schooling worked together to the benefit of our children.
