News for the Ninth

Statement

As your liaison to your government, it is crucial that I hear from as many people as possible regarding the various issues that affect the folks back home in Missouri. Currently, it is clear that many of you are concerned with our educational system at all levels. Whether a child is enrolled in pre-school or in college, we all want to be sure they are getting the best education possible.

I believe education is a state and local issue, and it is important that we keep the long-arm of the federal government from dictating what education our children receive. The federal government can play a supporting role in education, but the issue is best left to state and local officials.

As you may know, I created a Make A Difference section on my website that allows me to hear directly from you. I would like to share with you some of the comments I have received on the important topic of education. A gentleman from Kirksville framed the issue perfectly when he said he wanted to see education returned to states and local governments.

A woman from Harrisburg hits the nail on the head when she says, "Our children are our greatest asset. I have a personal belief in giving people the tools they need to succeed in life. Giving them a good education is one of the best tools we can give." This means our schools must be the type of environment that prepares our children to compete in the ever-increasing global market. This environment also includes our teachers. Teaching is a vitally important component to our child's success. Outside of the home, our teachers have the most impact on our children's development. By supporting our schools and teachers both at home and in Washington, we come closer to ensuring that our children are prepared for the future.

A teacher from Moberly, who obviously has unique insight into the issue of education, had this to offer: "As a teacher, I consider myself a professional and know it is my job to ensure students learn, despite any hurdles or difficulties they may have to overcome outside of the school. However, data shows that parent support is critical to student success."

These are only a few samples of the hundreds of opinions on this matter. I have heard you all loud and clear and agree that education is crucial to our country's future, and Congress can play a role by supporting our state and local governments. America is a country that gives its citizens the opportunity to earn the best education available. We must continue to improve our educational system from both the student perspective and the teacher perspective, but this issue is best left up to the states and local governments. We expect our youth to lead this great nation in the future and this begins with their education.

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