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Priorities for Education

The US Constitution is clear in giving individual states the authority to establish public educational systems that meet state goals. The federal role in education should be limited to those areas where federal assistance enhances state's efforts (special education, technology infrastructure, supporting anti-poverty efforts, and more.)

Public education provides us more and better return on our investment as a nation than any other use of public funds. It is unreasonable to believe that we can achieve the goal of quality schools for all without paying for it. I strongly support increasing Title I and other ESEA resources and targeting those resources to help high-poverty students. Fully fund federal educational mandates such as No Child Left Behind and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a basic promise that we have made to states and local schools.

I would advocate for removal of the "stick" approach of punishment and retribution as a way to enforce federal educational reform standards. The federal government does not "care" more about students than the individual school district, teachers, parents and citizens. Teachers are professionals who should be supported in their efforts to serve the diverse gifts and needs of their students. If a student is failing, the problem is known by the teacher before anyone else, and the ability to work with other support professionals to find a successful solution should be a school level, child centered team approach without concern that the school's national standing will be impacted by high need students. By focusing on individualized solutions, small class size, and adequate funding, public schools and the children they serve can and will succeed. In order to maximize effectiveness of all educational programs, the broader levels of government ought to support ongoing research and development of successful methodology used by master teachers, encouraging and providing incentives for their proven programs and innovative approaches.

Paraphrasing Oliver Wendell Holmes who is purported to have said, "The first generation of Americans studied war so that the next generation could study business and industry so that the next generation could study the arts." Surely we have progressed that far by 2008. I truly believe that the arts blended with good science programs will give children the skills needed most in the 21st century.

Blend the Universal Health Care initiatives into an overall approach to children's wellness so that all children come to school everyday ready to learn. This includes identification of chronic problems such as obesity and diabetes and returning vitally important physical education and health education programs to every school's curriculum every day. It also includes healthy school lunches and the availability of healthy snacks at school instead of sugary foods and carbonated beverages. Healthy kids learn better. Send teachers healthy children and they will teach them.