Education
Our tax dollars. Our kids. We deserve to be heard. I have been involved in education since 1999, when I began working as an ESL teacher. I became a home schooling mom when I took over the educational responsibilities of a child entrusted to my care. After that, I continued to home school my own children for many years and also brought my kids to public and charter schools. My experiences in America and abroad have allowed me opportunities to also teach at private and charter schools.
Education can be handled in so many ways, and what I know to be true is that a student's parent and teacher know best what a student needs in order to achieve. I believe educational standards, methods, and curriculum as well as school lunch ought to be decided by the local taxpayers. Teachers and parents, those closest to the students, ought to be the decision-makers for our schools-- not federal bureaucrats, not the president's wife, not our Congressional members, and certainly not the USDA.
When the federal government makes decisions impacting students, there seems to be very little we as parents and teachers can do to influence decisions. Putting the federal government in charge makes responsibility elusive. Last year, I contributed to our local parent-teacher advisory committee to the school board. It's in these local meetings where great ideas are birthed and local issues can be solved timely and effectively. However, if federal funds are used as a means to engineer an outcome of any kind, the local voices don't have much impact. I am concerned the continued federal involvement stifles educational growth and community trust between parents and the school board.
I've also heard from many parents who believe there is less focus on educating our children and more about a program or money. I am opposed to the crony capitalism found in our federally-funded school system today. I oppose the so-called "Common Core Aligned" curriculum, which is being marketed and sold to our schools even though Minnesota hasn't adopted the Common Core standards except in ELL. I want to ensure that the standards for our children are established on high standards with local input, not dictated by Washington. I will protect parental rights over their children's education, promoting liberty of conscience for parents and students.
My hope is that federal school funding for lunch will also not be used as a weapon or means to threaten schools and students to do or act in a certain way. I envision parents and teachers deciding together how they will work out any local or social problems. I hope for the educational power and supports to be given back to the educators, regardless if it's Mom, Dad, private, public or charter school.
Education can be handled in so many ways, and what I know to be true is that a student's parent and teacher know best what a student needs in order to achieve. I believe educational standards, methods, and curriculum as well as school lunch ought to be decided by the local taxpayers. Teachers and parents, those closest to the students, ought to be the decision-makers for our schools-- not federal bureaucrats, not the president's wife, not our Congressional members, and certainly not the USDA.
When the federal government makes decisions impacting students, there seems to be very little we as parents and teachers can do to influence decisions. Putting the federal government in charge makes responsibility elusive. Last year, I contributed to our local parent-teacher advisory committee to the school board. It's in these local meetings where great ideas are birthed and local issues can be solved timely and effectively. However, if federal funds are used as a means to engineer an outcome of any kind, the local voices don't have much impact. I am concerned the continued federal involvement stifles educational growth and community trust between parents and the school board.
I've also heard from many parents who believe there is less focus on educating our children and more about a program or money. I am opposed to the crony capitalism found in our federally-funded school system today. I oppose the so-called "Common Core Aligned" curriculum, which is being marketed and sold to our schools even though Minnesota hasn't adopted the Common Core standards except in ELL. I want to ensure that the standards for our children are established on high standards with local input, not dictated by Washington. I will protect parental rights over their children's education, promoting liberty of conscience for parents and students.
My hope is that federal school funding for lunch will also not be used as a weapon or means to threaten schools and students to do or act in a certain way. I envision parents and teachers deciding together how they will work out any local or social problems. I hope for the educational power and supports to be given back to the educators, regardless if it's Mom, Dad, private, public or charter school.