Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Whether you prefer the Greek word "sophos" or the English "wisdom", the general concept remains the same. The wisdom that we pass on to our future generations is perhaps one of the most important contributions we can give to our children. The period of learning is one that never ends. For children, teens in high school, college students or just someone who enjoys learning more about his/her interests, education is the foundation of society and the key to its advancement.

The first issue that must be tackled is the use of outdated tools, such as textbooks. By focusing on electronic learning material, we:

* Eliminate stress on the backs of our youth;
* Allow interactive features, videos and quizzes to be embedded directly within the learning material;
* Reduce the cost of textbooks (no cost of printing);
* Material can be updated at any time.

Second, decisions regarding teaching methods should be left to teachers, not politicians. The teachers should utilize their union, vote individually (do not rely on union reps to vote for you) and work to build a school system that is successful. Even the options that I list here should be put to a vote before implemented. Topics for consideration (after scientific studies) should include:

1. What are the top nations, such as Finland, doing different than the US and how can we implement parts of these systems into our own?
2. Should we retain our traditional education system, or explore alternatives, such as the Montessori method?
3. Should a law be passed that requires parents to attend conferences or other educational activities for their children?
4. How can we increase the participation and effectiveness of education in our urban cores?

Third, and this is already implemented to some extent, we must increase our focus on teamwork and cooperation. One way to accomplish this task is to end marketing programs within schools that teach children to accept institutions that utilize top-down decision making systems rather than democratic methods. Parents should be required to attend conferences with the school, especially if their child is disruptive, and calm resolutions to the problem should be created.

Fourth, extend the school year by at least one month.

Fifth, in order to prepare for the world after school, high school students should attend a three-hour class every-other Saturday throughout the school year to study the subject matter related to their future college major.

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