Another School Year Begins

Caleb is currently attending his first day of school at his new school. 2nd Grade, a big year to be sure. He met his teacher and saw his classroom last week and told me this morning (at 6:45am, school here starts at 7:40) that he was excited for his first day. I was excited for him.

I couldn't help but think about the recent happenings in congress. We cannot be cutting spending on public education in this country. We should be putting more funding into it. We should let teachers do what they do best: teach. We should get rid of certain standardized tests, especially those that test children in elementary school. Kids are not only learning many things, some testable, some not, they are learning how to learn. Let the teachers figure out how each student learns and be able to teach kids the best way they can. No teacher wants to teach kids answers to a test. They want the kids to learn and know how to learn on their own.

I also have been thinking about my own education. If a college professor was teaching me answers and not how to understand the content, I would be furious and drop the class. No one wants to PAY for that kind of education. I can see how taxpayers are upset about how the public schools are run, but it's not because they are over-funded or have bad teachers. All the rules and threats of losing your job based on students performance creates unnecessary pressure on teachers that already have each child's best interest in their minds and hearts.

I also think about my education and hope that I will still be able to further my education and that student loans will be available. Cutting spending on student loans also will not help this country, it holds it back. If fewer people are able to attend college and get that further education we all know is so important to not only each student's future, but to the country's future. I have yet to hear a parent tell their child they hope they do not go to college. It's not a right in this country, but it should be possible for any eligible student with the drive and desire to take out a loan to attend an institution of higher education (especially for in-state tuition).

I have recently received my voter registration card for our new district/state and education cuts and/or spending will definitely be a factor in my decisions come election time.