Fixing the educational system in this country will NOT come from Capitol Hill. These politicians are so out of touch with their own districts that they probably have no idea of the actual state of their local school systems. Furthermore, too many of our politicians are linked to special interest educational unions, such as the NEA, and they are afraid of voting against their union voters. This must change...we MUST stop coddling our special interest groups and focus on actually EDUCATING our children. Here are my thoughts:
1. Keep the Federal Government OUT of the business of running our schools. Sure the Feds can set national standards that our kids should be able to reach, but they should really give adequate money to the states and let them run and fund the schools as they see fit. We should give these schools ALL that they need to provide a good education to their youth, but, at the same time, they need to be held accountable for their successes and FAILURES. Bottom line, the Federal government should give the local school districts what they need to succeed and then get out of the way!
2. We need to ABOLISH the NEA and completely scrap its influence in our schools. The fact that teacher tenure is more important than educating our youth is a primary reason that our schools are failing. Furthermore, the NEA needs to be audited and should be put on notice as an organization beholden to the most Leftist groups/politicians in our nation. The NEA should force its teachers to TEACH our children, or loose ANY and ALL funding that it receives from American tax payers.
3. We MUST end political correctness in our grade schools. If a student can't read AT or ABOVE his/her current grade level, then that student MUST either be held back or required to attend summer school or extra tutoring sessions in order to progress to the next grade level. We have got to quit allowing our students to advance if they aren't equipped to do so...if their feelings get hurt, then they can deal with it. I was told I made mistakes in school and I worked harder...we should tell kids they are wrong when they mess up and help them to do better; STOP the CODDLING.
4. We WILL take thuggery out of our schools. Far too often our students and teachers feel fearful when going to school; they feel as if they always have to be on guard in order to avoid physical harm. For this, there needs to be a ZERO tolerance rule...if you cause harm at school (selling drugs, buying weapons, excessive bullying), then you will be kicked out, PERIOD. You will be required to go to school, but you will be required to do so at a military school or somewhere similar where discipline is MANDATORY. Parents, you will be required to PAY at least part of the fee to enroll these hoodlums in schools like these...stop making our children suffer while we deal with your child. For all other offenses, we need to enforce, without fear of lawsuit, etc, a "three strike rule" for those who continually break the rules.
5. We need a VOUCHER system. We should allow parents to use the money they'd otherwise be paying in taxes to put their money in a voucher or in a TAX-FREE education fund for their children. They can use this voucher to attend the schools of their choice. If under performing schools fail, then so be it...competition will breed success.
6. EMPHASIZE and SUPPORT charter schools. President Obama shut down one in DC recently which forced primarily "inner-city" youth, who were preforming well, to attend schools in the DC school system...this is a TRAVESTY! We should reward schools, teachers and administrators who excel in their jobs and keep our students performing at top levels.
7. We must end busing. Local school districts ought to be allowed to determine if they want students bused to their schools from other areas of the city...the government needs to stay out of these choices. If local schools are failing, then it should be up to LOCAL officials and parents to FIX the schools...not the job of better performing school districts to take in additional students from these failing schools (this does not include students with vouchers).
8. Understand and support the needs of schools with Special Education courses. Make schools perform to the standards set forth by law, but take into account schools with special needs youth. Reward schools who have good special needs programs which not only educate but allow for greater social interaction with the youth they teach.
9. ESL classes are necessary, but we MUST insist on parents and students to learn the English language as quickly as possible. We should mandate how long a child can be in a ESL class...if, for example, the child hasn't learned sufficient English in 3 years, then they need complete English immersion...no questions asked. Also, we MUST retool our curriculum to focus on Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, US History and Geography. We must also allow our students to take financial awareness courses in late grade school and high school which will teach them the basics of investing, earning and spending money...financial literacy so that they will learn the importance of money in their daily lives.
10. We MUST reward our teachers for good work. I advocate that we give a $3000 tax credit to teachers who complete the highest qualifications possible. We should also not tax bonuses and incentives given to teachers who excel in the classroom. If we want to keep our best teachers in the classroom, then we must do what we can to reward them for their good work.
Finally, STOP the motto "All children CAN learn". Rather, make it "All children WILL learn".
