Education

I believe that only the local jurisdictions can make decisions as to what will be taught in our schools. The role of the Federal government must be limited to providing additional funds for areas which are truly poor. That is certainly needed in many of our areas. However, it is totally inappropriate for the federal government to mandate the curriculum of an individual school or school district.

I support a reduction in the size and focus of the US Department of education.

The federal government can also make seed money available for demonstration projects to better use technology in the classroom. For example, in Fairfax County , Virginia, federal Community Action funds were used to partly fund the purchase of laptop computers for a third grade class, with the students being allowed to take them home – free Internet accounts were also provided through a school server. The project proved quickly that there was a major increase in student achievement. The improvement was especially large for low income and immigrant students.

Teachers

We place a horrible burden on teachers and expect them to be role models for our children. Yet we, as a society, spend much more money on prisons than we do schools. Priorities are wrong when we seek to improve society by passing mandatory sentencing laws that imprison more and more young people for minor crimes. Prison then becomes a truly effective school, where they learn to be professional criminals. We must begin to place a greater emphasis on the role of the teacher as a role model and the importance of education rather than punishment after the fact. Let’s give the teachers both the tools and funding they need, as well as respect.

Public education on the local level has my full support. I oppose a Federal voucher system which drains funds from the public schools and does little to benefit those who need help the most. I oppose national intervention in local schools, to include the so-called: No Child Left Behind” program.

No Chld Left Behind - promotes rote learning, and conformity of the worst kind. It is achievement without creative thinking and true understanding. Those who know how to study and learn do not need the test; as they will perform well in any event. Those who lack kearning skills will not receive them as a result of more testing. NCLB is a waste of teacher's time and resources. Education based on Transfer of Learning techniques must be applied in our schools. Rather eduacation ambassadors be sent to needy school districts to promote the general welfare of the nation than ablank tests to be filled out by drilled students.

I see the Federal Government serving as a catalyst for a national organization of state boards of education to handle the task of disseminating successful education techiques;to act as a clearing huse of information and coordinator among the states, Where there is a need for one state to study and adopt successful educational techinques from one another. I beleive it would be appropriate for the Federal Government to aid in such a program. In no conditions should Federal money be dnagled as enticement for states to adopt any programs.