I seek this office because of a deep commitment to public
education and community service.
I bring no particular agenda or axe to grind to the
campaign. I will listen and learn as a
member of the MCSB. I will listen to our
students, their parents, our teachers, and school administrators. And, I will listen to the citizens and taxpayers
of Madison and their representatives, the Board of Supervisors.
I do bring certain definite convictions and principles to
this possible role.
·
Public education is an essential aspect of our
democratic society.
o A
democratic society cannot function without an educated citizenry and the public
schools are our first means of nurturing such a citizenry.
o Public
education is also an essential mechanism for preventing a widening of the gap
between the haves and the have nots that threatens a truly democratic society.
·
Our public schools should serve all our students.
o We
should be very proud of those with great academic potential who excel in the
classroom and support their ambitions to succeed at top tier universities.
o A
much greater number will go to less prestigious colleges and universities,
including community colleges. We need to
pay greater attention to their preparation for college work.
o Equally
important is our responsibility to those who will go directly into the
workforce or public service. They too
must have the knowledge and skills for success and citizenship.
·
All students should be given the opportunity and
expected to learn to write grammatically, think critically, and to exercise
their citizenship responsibilities knowledgably.
·
All students must be prepared for the age of
technology. Whether college or workforce
bound, all students must be computer and technology literate. The jobs in the 21st century
economy will require such literacy.
·
Students, teachers, and administrators must be
made accountable for learning and teaching.
o Standardized
testing is part, but only a part, of the necessary structures of
accountability.
o The
School Board should be an advocate with parents, students, teachers, and
administrators in helping to overcome the tyranny of testing that threatens
quality education.
o Teachers
and administrators should be provided the resources and opportunities to excel
and maintain competency throughout their careers.
o Teachers
and administrators who do not meet minimum expectations of competency should be
encouraged to find other means of employment.
·
The School Board should be an advocate for
public education before the public and the Board of Supervisors.
o A
relationship of trust between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors is
essential.
o Both
boards are accountable to the citizenry.
The Board of Supervisors should not micromanage the school system.
·
Teachers and administrators, including the
Superintendent, are responsible to the School Board. The school administration works for the citizenry
through the School Board. The School
Board should not only represent the school administration, but also manage its
work..
·
First Amendment protections of religious liberty
as they relate to the public schools should be fully respected.
o No
teacher, administrator, or employee of the government should lead students in
prayer or any other religious practice.
o No
student or teacher should be discriminated against on the basis of his or her
religious belief or non-belief.
o Students
should not be restricted in the free exercise of their beliefs or non-beliefs
so long as that exercise is not disruptive of normal educational and
extra-curricular activities.
Teachers
should be empowered to teach about the historical and contemporary role of
religion in society in an appropriate academic manner.
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