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| Education by Paul Richards, Candidate for U.S. Senate Montana |
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| EDUCATION To survive as a nation, the United States must have an educated public. Our very democracy itself depends on an educated populace. We cannot survive the challenges that face us in this new millennium without a well-informed public which regularly questions policy-makers and the media. To compete in an increasingly technological and specialized world, we must continually hold education as a top priority. We need keen, inquisitive minds to restore vital civic debate and dialogue and to ensure accountability of public officials. Quite simply, education is part of creating a responsible adult citizenry, able to manage and improve culture and society. A well-designed, well-maintained, well-funded educational system is the engine of prosperity. |
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| EDUCATIONAL
REFORM Reform and improvement of K-12 and post-secondary education must be elevated to the highest priority for funding and attention. Urgent areas include smaller teacher-student ratios; fully-funded school and community libraries, open 24 hours a day; and free, readily available education for all through college and trade school. For example, we could follow the Irish model, in which any person who graduates from high school can continue in free higher education. Montana could blossom, first in education and then in its economy, just as has happened in Ireland over the past 20 years. Montana presents a perfect opportunity for educational pilot projects, such as hands-on programs concerning local food and sustainable energy production. A Senator committed to education could facilitate grants and seed money for such programs. Montana can build on its natural advantages by becoming a laboratory for innovation, leading toward an improved economy, more active citizens, and a healthier environment. Businesses will locate in areas which exhibit such a commitment. As a result, Montana will benefit economically from a serious and well-publicized effort at education reform. Reformers must directly address those who fear a well-educated, competent, and informed citizenry. As a society, we must deal frankly with the problem of a concentrated corporate media which have a vested interest in producing merely isolated and obedient consumers. Independent media must be established at every level of community and encouraged to improve the dialogue of citizenship. Americans must accept the basic need for more money for education. As Senator, I will help refocus our national priorities. If we invest the money now, an improved society and healthy economy will follow. As the United States weans itself from a fossil fuel economy, we will no longer require our worldwide military presence. Our “peace dividend” has no better investment than education. |
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| TEACHING
REVALUED The primary role of the federal government must be to provide the resources necessary for quality education. In recent years, the federal government has placed more emphasis on testing than teaching. We need an increased, systematic effort to value and reward the function of teaching. Currently, we pretend to value teaching, but fail to provide the career and monetary rewards given other careers requiring similar levels of education and competence. Within higher education, teaching must be restored to an importance at least equal to that of research and administration. Montana could become known as a place where education matters and professors are given the time and resources necessary to teach. Think how good this will look to the intelligent, motivated students who want a real education! These are exactly the students Montana wants to attract. Finally, sound fiscal management for public education is crucial. Web sites can show exactly what money is obtained from where, exactly how it is being spent on what, and for exactly what specific reasons and goals. |
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| CONCLUSION Higher education is only part of an education for citizenship and the education for life. All students must be encouraged to learn and practice the concepts and responsibilities of citizenship. We need to learn how to speak at public meetings, how to question public officials, how to examine a financial report, how to practice “home economics,” how to vote, and how to help our country achieve its ideals. |
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| Paul
Richards 2006 • Richards for U.S. Senate P.O. Box 422 • Boulder, MT 59632 406-225-4235 paul@richards2006.us |