Education

The efficient, effective, and functional education of children and adults is critical to the nation's continued success and progress.

However, the federal Department of Education should have never been created, and today should be disbanded.  Last year, the U.S. Department of Education spent over $68 billion.  If it had been split between the 50 states equally, and gone directly to each State's respective Dept. of Education instead, it would have meant $1.36 billion for EACH State!  Who knows better what each State, county, and city needs better than those who are right there, living in it?  While disbanding the U.S. Dept. of Education is not a priority action for me, it reflects on my personal beliefs regarding States' Rights.

Public educators must accept, embrace, and willingly work with those who prefer private, family-based, or faith-based instruction.  As such, there is no reason why school vouchers shouldn't be offered for those who wish their children to attend a school that is not publicly funded.  Taxpayers fund public schools, and if a parent or guardian wishes to put their part toward a non-public school, there is no reason they shouldn't be able to do so.

Parents and educators must accept the inevitability of change and embrace new technologies if they wish for children to succeed in the job market.  Children easily adapt and gravitate towards new technologies, and their preparedness and experience benefit each of them as individuals, as well as the nation as a whole.

Each State must establish standards and measurements to ensure progress on an individual group basis; however, education must never digress into a situation where teachers are "teaching to the test," or focusing more on how to pass a test than understanding the content of the test.  While factual recall is important, understanding and critical thinking are essential.

Promoting the "hard sciences" such as engineering, computer and software technology, medicine, mathematics, biology, and others - as well as security fields such as public safety and ROTC - are as necessary today as it has been throughout history to maintain a competitive edge internationally and keep our nation safe.