Representing Progressive National Education Policies

Reduce School Sizes through Federal Funding and State Control. A 1996-97, U.S. Department of Education report, “Violence and Discipline Problems in U.S. Public Schools: 1996-97” clearly shows that the movements towards larger, consolidated schools is not the best environment for our students. Schools defined as big (1,000 or more) have 825 percent more violent crime, 270 percent more vandalism, 394 percent more fights and assaults and 1000 percent more weapons incidents. Greens support legislation that rejects tax-breaks for multi-national corporations and brings that money back to the Iowa’s education system for badly needed improvements in school infrastructure. Legislation like “No Child Left Behind” is cumbersome and is placing blame on the hard working teachers and students instead of the flawed system. It is the Federal Government’s job to provide the states (and ultimately local school districts) the dedicated funds that are needed to provide a safer environment for our children to learn in.

Fund Programs designed to help Two Income Families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000, Iowa has the highest percentage – 79.4 – of having both parents in the labor force. Nationally, 67.4% of families with school-age children have both parents in the work force. Greens will work to develop and fund legislation that is designed to take the pressure off of Two Income families by providing quality after school programs for “latch-key” children. Furthermore, we propose that their be an aggressive movement to support publicly-funded pre-school for 4 year-olds thereby removing the large financial burden of that year of private pre-school.

Invest in quality teachers. The dedicated men and women that have chosen teaching as their profession have been demoralized in the past few decades. They have had to deal with government regulations and limited funding that does not allow them the ability to harness the potential of their students. Not only do Greens support federal support for the infrastructure needed to provide these teachers and students with a successful environment, but we also need to nurture our investment and allow it to become the best in its area of expertise. We need to provide national incentive programs that reward teachers that produce high-achieving learners and help teachers achieve advanced degrees in their areas of expertise. Only by investing in the resources that are on the front lines of education will we make a profound impact in our nation’s ability to produce a more educated population.