The educational infrastructure that existed after World War II was affordable and helped thrust an entire generation firmly into the middle class which helped make our economy strong and our people civically engaged. However, as a nation, we’ve forgotten the values and investments that have made our country great. As we have gutted out educational infrastructure, we have seen our debt, both personal and national, skyrocket. Meanwhile, we have seen our economic strength plateau, or even decline.
As one of my elementary school teachers put it, it’s time to get back to basics. We need to reinvest in both our teachers and our students to propel the generation entering school right now into economic dominance we have not seen since the 1960s.
First, we need to do a better job of paying our teachers what they are worth. They shape the minds of our children, but in recent years, the best teachers are unwilling to subject themselves to the stagnant wages and increasing pressure from irate parents. Instead of the corporate bailouts and corporate welfare of my republican opponent, I propose we put tax breaks where they will matter most. If elected, I will sponsor language that will exempt the first $50,000 of a teacher’s salary from federal income tax. This would mean up to $5,000 of extra take home pay each year.
Second, we need to pay attention to emerging educational trends and focus more on early learning initiatives. Educational research indicates that early exposure to language can make all the difference for future success. I want to close what early learning experts call the 30-million-word gap between children from poor households and children in rich households. While supporting K-12 is important, by the time many children enter Kindergarten, he or she is already behind the learning curve so far that catching up is impossible. We can do this by educating the caregivers on how to better interact with their children. Tackling this language development gap that is occurring every day in America means opening up huge economic possibilities and a chance to grow our economy by maximizing the potential of all of our citizens, not just the ones of a fortunate birth. This is a commitment to our children that will cost us far less in the long run than the Band-Aids we use now.
Third, there was a time when we supported vocational training as much as higher education. Not all pathways are equal and I believe we should stop promoting a one-size-fits-all approach to education and marginalizing the vocational track. Instead, I think we should provide opportunities for meaningful skills training beginning in middle school and continue through high school. Those who show the aptitude and interest will get gainful employment in fields with crucial shortages. I would also like to see small businesses offer apprenticeships to high school students. Upon completion of the program, we produce a generation of high-skilled students ready to tackle the real world.
Finally, we need to realize that the massive amounts of student debt are a pending economic crisis for a generation of youth that received the bad advice of parents and guidance counselors that college was a guarantee of financial success. I am not about handouts and I don’t think debt should just be erased. However, bolstering the pubic service debt relief program could result in better government and freedom from the slavery of debt. Betsy Devos is threatening to get rid of a program that allows students to work for the government (or a non-profit) for 10 years in exchange for assistance with debt payments. I say we need to recommit to a program that gives a hand up to hard working, and well educated Americans.
The ideas I’ve outlined look at the whole picture of education. We pay our teachers better, we support young children and young parents, we recognize the importance of skilled trades, and we give a hand up to people that are willing to serve their country. This is a classically American thing to do and I think most Americans support it.
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