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for 2006 Pennsylvania Primary Election Legislative Candidates
In response to your questionnaire, I am responding as follows: The Pennsylvania Constitution requires our children to receive a thorough and efficient education. What we provide is neither thorough nor efficient. K-12 graduates receive a diploma at a cost which exceeds that of the private sector while over the last decade the Legislature (your rep/senator) fails to fund its fifty percent share. The results are sky rocketing property taxes. Having received a diploma, graduates need remedial work to gain access to higher education. Graduates seeking admission to the militery services fail the Armed Forces Qualifications Test which measures reading, writing and math skills. Others seeking entry into the world of commerce and industry are unable to complete applications satisfactorily. It is time for the Legislature to face the problem head on, patching has not worked. A select committee needs to be appointed to reform the system. We did something similar for the state system of higher education in 1980. I admit that I do not have the answers but I recognize the problems and it is time to reform it to meet the constitutional requirement as well as the needs of our youth. Failure to address this important issue will only cause further erosion of public education at the expense of the quality of life for future generations. My position is the result of experience as a former school board member, former legislator, educator and parent. When elected I am committed to worlig diligently with like minded legislators to reform public education.
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