- State and local control (not federal)
- We cannot fear knowledge or competition or reviews of effectiveness; it appears that turf has been staked out by certain groups with certain agendas; we must break down those barriers.
- Voucher system - let the market control
- Tenure system abolished - let the market control; no other segment of society gets such protection.
- Move away from teaching to pass standardized tests approach to education.
- Implement an Ombudsman program for public schools. Parents could take their school/teacher complaints to an independent committee made up of parents, teachers, school administrators and community members. School boards are busy with budgets etc; this provides a check and balance on school administrators who often do not address issues (or even patterns of improper behavior). Patterns of incompetence could be discovered through the public ombudsman records.
- Focus on basics - "Core Knowledge" program is an excellent example
- Year-round school schedule; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule (includes homework (i.e., no homework) and extra-curricular activities) - This allows family time in the evening. This will coordinate work and school schedules. The shorter breaks will keep students focused and eliminate the need for significant review that is required under the current long summer break.
- No children left behind; no child pulled behind either (gifted programs).
- Move from "zero tolerance" to "almost zero tolerance" to remedy cases that are illogical.
- Parent involvement required - more conferences required; we must recognize and address the impact of parental involvement and cultural influences on the education process
- Teach respect, courtesy, hard work, American culture (Civics), including Constitution/Bill of Rights; require substantial community service project for graduation
- Teach both evolution and creationism (why should either side be threatened by teaching?); similarly teach global warming as both man-made and natural; stem cell as adult and fetal and so on. There is no room for political agendas in science. Teach it all and the facts will eventually become clear. We shouldn't fear knowledge; we also shouldn't fear old teachings. 30 years ago "Big bang" was a firecracker. Let's not throw away thousands of years of knowledge; rather let's add to the existing knowledge.
- Increase physical education programs
- Mandatory bell curve grading in high school for consistency.
- Increase availability of outside tutors; helps students and acts as a check for effective teaching.
- Focus on the ability to read and debate rationally political and social issues in an unbiased way.
- Teach history in a factual way; stop teaching as apologists for America or the American way of life.
- Increase practical training in college (e.g., more internship programs)
- If a school levy fails, another levy cannot be placed on the ballot for at least 2 calendar years
- Courses and competitions on entrepreneurship, inventions and creativity
- Encourage schools to use uniforms to: (i) reduce peer pressure (ii) avoid improper or intimidating attire and (iii) insure appropriateness of attire to maximize discipline and learning
- Public funding of primary education. The state provides schools minimum education requirements in the major categories: Math, Civics, English, Science, foreign language etc.
- On a per student basis the state provides the funding (inflation adjusted for 5 years and re-evaluated every 5 years) to meet those needs on an ongoing basis, plus 5% for capital improvements. The amount provided is based upon statistical analysis (averages) compiled by the State Budget Office and reviewed by an independent consultant hired by the state.
- Any extras - course offerings, sports, programs etc. are paid for by local taxes. Facilities are paid primarily by local districts. Every person has a minimum education; if localities want to provide more they pay for it.
- Review effectiveness/validity of standardized (graduation/proficiency) tests for students, teachers and school systems; any tests must have simple verifiable results. Use SAT/ACT for college bound students; no need for additional test.
- Public schools are government agencies; we need to insure that due process and free speech and other rights of students and parents are protected; also review privacy issues.
- Add evening community college classes at high schools. The facilities are available we just need to bring in the professors.
- Enforce against colleges the rules that limit charities from being too political unless in context of fair debate
- Professors cannot charge for use of their books (or their "colleagues'" books) in their own classes.
- Eliminate all athletic scholarships at all levels; other scholarships remain.
- Require written report from college admissions committee on why a candidate is not admitted to a college/program
- Public College education funding. Freeze budgets (except inflation adjustments) - state pays 55% students pay 45%. If Colleges want additional programs, add-ons, etc. they need to undertake private fundraising - not burden students or government budget.
- Include region appropriate "crisis" training (i.e., how to prepare for natural disasters)
- Review issues with respect to educating boys
- College security measures -- more armed security guards; stronger lock-down procedures; more training on recognition and responding. Develop technology for "stun zones" at classroom entrances
Goals: Update the system
Reasons: We are spending more and our children are getting less. We live in a world of global competition, so we need to have the best education system possible. We must move beyond the institutions of the 20th century and unleash a system that (i) can be evaluated for effectiveness, (ii) does not fear knowledge and (iii) fosters competition. Education must provide opportunities. We need to update and expand the school schedule to conform with societal changes. The unique gifts of children will be enhanced during the extra time. Teaching both evolution and creationism allows a comparison; more knowledge can be better. Public schools and public universities are funded by the taxpayers and particular political and social agendas should not be promoted. In particular, employees of such institutions through their unions or otherwise should not be permitted to use their taxpayer funded positions to promote their agendas. The business of schools and universities is to teach - primarily reading, writing, arithmetic, history and technology. We have lost sight of the fact that these are taxpayer funded, government institutions. The outside forces must not be permitted to improperly use their positions "for the good of children or society" as they view it.
"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." -George Washington Carver
"Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men - the balance wheel of social machinery." -Horace Mann
"A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people." -Frederick Douglass
"No amount of charters, direct primaries, or short ballots will make a democracy out of illiterate people." -Walter Lippmann
"A democratic form of government, a democratic way of life presupposes free education over a long period; it presupposes also an education of personal responsibility that too often is neglected." -Eleanor Roosevelt