John Marty Response
1
Question 1: Many alternatives to the existing education
system have been proposed; including charter schools, vouchers and private
sector involvement. Do you favor any of these approaches, or do you
have specific proposals to strengthen the current system?
Education is our best investment. While Minnesota schools prepare
students better than schools in other states, there is room for
improvement.
Unfortunately, many recent educational "reforms" do more harm than
good. Rather than working with school boards and teachers to improve
schools, many state mandated reforms treat them as obstacles, not
partners.
Response to specific questions:
I oppose vouchers and credits that take resources that should go to
public schools.
Charter schools provide creative alternatives for students, but do not
replace the need for a good regular school system.
Encourage private sector involvement to bring in volunteers and
resources. However, do not turn schools over to those attempting to
profit off of students. No commercial advertising in schools.
Among Marty educational initiatives:
Change focus of Department of Children, Families and Learning (CFL)
from role of "enforcer" to "helper." The governor and legislature
have been passing laws to "fix" schools. Consequently, CFL has been
handing down rules and mandates, instead of focusing on spreading
creative educational ideas from teacher to teacher.
Stop jumping from fad to fad in education "reforms". Resources needed
for teaching are wasted on implementing these mandates. Allow local
school boards to make policy decisions they were elected to make.
Shift more responsibility for education funding from property
taxpayers to the state. The quality of a student's education should
not be based on the tax base of the community.
Ensure that schools have the resources needed. Availability of basic
supplies should not depend on the teacher's ability to pay for them.
Schools need resources to challenge gifted and talented students and
help special needs children.
Promote parental involvement. Reading to young children and other
parental support is crucial to academic success.
Invest in early childhood programs. ECFE, Head Start, early childhood
health and nutrition investments save money.
