Issues
Stop teaching to the test
Over the last decade our public schools have increased standardized testing to the point where our teachers spend a large portion of their year preparing the children for those specific tests. These standardized tests do not improve the education or development of our children. What they do provide are data points and funding. I would like to see funding distributed based on need, not standardized testing scores. Federal funding will always come with strings attached. Usually in the form of specific curriculum and policies put in place. I firmly believe the federal department of education should be disbanded and all the money that usually goes to the department of education and then distributed by unelected officials, should be returned to the individual states.
Remove all politics from the classroom
We have seen an increasing number of educators and administrators discuss their personal views and beliefs regarding political events on a world stage. This is highly inappropriate and needs to stop immediately. I do believe that children at a high school level should have political discussions, but only in the appropriate class and setting. There is also a push from the federal level, state level and district level to install social agenda topics into every subject. Because these subjects are very subjective, they also have no place in the public schools. If parents want their children learning about them, then that is the parents responsibility to have those discussions with their child.
Developmentally appropriate education
There has been a gradual push in our public schools to teach and discuss sex and sexuality in all classes and grade levels. I do believe having a basic sex education lesson is appropriate for junior high and high school students. However, these topics have no place in an elementary school. Furthermore, our public schools do not need to spend excessive resources and an entire course teaching these topics. This topic is very sensitive and private for many parents. I believe we should be giving parents the opportunity to be involved in these personal discussions.
Psychological and emotional safety net for all student
Eliminate programing that is not uplifting and supportive of all demographics. Allowing free expression of thoughts and ideas without threat of retaliation.
Teaching for the betterment of the individual and not the system
Our teachers are given a box to teach in, with no space for customization, creativity, or critical thinking. Then our teachers must try and fit all their students into that box. I want to work toward allowing more independence for our hard-working teachers. With increased freedom, our teachers can support their students' individual, educational needs.