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for 2004 Pennsylvania General Election Legislative Candidates
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Pennsylvania's system of funding public education? What should the Pennsylvania Legislature do, if anything, to improve the system of funding public education? (75 words or less) Pennsylvania's system for funding public education is broken and needs totally rebuilt. Property tax, which is the main revenue source, rails unfairly upon home owners, no matter what there ability to pay. Schools should be funded by revenue from a progressive income tax; with those most able to pay paying the most. Low income workers, who quality for tax forgiveness, would be spared. I also feel we have to many school administrators. This money should go for education. 2. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act that expects every student to demonstrate proficiencies on state assessments in reading, math and science by 2014, and for all schools to demonstrate "adequate yearly progress" toward that goal? (75 words or less) I feel the 'No Child Left Behind Act' was passed for partisan political purposes, not to promote equal education. Traditionally, the states administered their own educational systems. I feel the Constitution promoted states to do that. Since we are forced to comply with this federal mandate, I believe we should move carefully. Hopefully this program will be replaced with a better one. 3. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to close the academic achievement gap that exists among groups of students in schools and school districts across the Commonwealth? (75 words or less) I believe the best thing the PA Legislature can do is to provide adequate funding from a fair tax system. Each school district should then proceed to do their duty to educate their students. I believe individual legislators should regularly visit schools in their district as 'adjuncts', lecturers to civic classes. This will keep them informed about their schools. 4. What, if anything, should the Pennsylvania Legislature do to increase access for young children in Pennsylvania to high-quality pre-K programs and full-day kindergarten programs? (75 words or less) I really don't have an answer for this one. I am not an educator, and have not had a pre-schooler in the house for 27 years. I am not up to date on such issues. But I will now give serious thought to it. And when elected, and I have the research resources, that I don't have here on the farm, I will get to work to ensure that all children have quality pre-school programs. 5. What is your vision of the public education opportunity that should be available to every child in Pennsylvania and what will you do to accomplish that goal? (75 words or less) I would like to see every child receive the best education that we can give. I would like to see our schools as safe and happy places, where a child's budding curiosity and thirst for knowledge can be filled. I would like to see teachers paid a solid living wage, and be respected; so many give up now. I would like to see most funding spent on education, not administration.
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