Education

When I was a high school teacher, there was a popular bumper sticker that read, “Wouldn't it be great if the schools had all the money they needed and the Air Force had to hold a bake sale to buy another bomber?” I support bringing our spending into balance, limiting military spending to fund education.  We have a chance to make sure the schools have all the money they need.

Here are my top education priorities:

1. We need to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The law's onerous accountability system appears designed to erode our public schools.  We must fashion a new law with significant input from teachers and paraprofessionals.  This policy should reward, not punish, schools and teachers whose students make significant academic progress in spite of economic disadvantage.  This includes protecting funding for rural schools that have lost tax base as much of their district includes protected forest land.    

2. I'll work to establish national standards for professional level pay and expanded professional development for teachers, classified staff, paraeducators, et cetera.  The logic is simple: better teacher and staff pay will attract better teachers and staff.  We need mentoring programs, funding and other support for teachers who seek and achieve National Board certification, and increased incentives for those who work in high-need, under-funded schools.

3. Children deserve our help before they even enter the classroom, and I support expanded early childhood education.  In addition, we need parent education, a program to provide parents the information and support they need to raise healthy, smart kids.  Parents are kids' first teachers.

4. The government can take steps to help enrich the classroom experience.  I'll work to expand funding for field trips, international student and teacher exchanges, and enrichment programs that not only educate students and teachers but also expose them to new ideas and experiences beyond the ordinary school day.

5. As a longer-range goal, I will work to provide funding for at least four years of post-secondary education (including community and technical colleges and other forms of post-secondary education) to all our citizens who desire it, and foster co-operation between high schools and post-secondary educational institutions.