Public Policy Update
The American Association of University Women;
Public Policy on Georgia Public Schools and Education
"Only the educated are free." Epictetus
"Information is the currency of freedom." Thomas Jefferson
The American Association of University Women recognizes a strong public
school system to be the engine of a free democracy. We believe well-educated
citizens lead more productive, meaningful lives and make wiser more discerning
decisions concerning their larger communities.
With this in mind and in a spirit of helpfulness, we offer the following
recommendations to the citizens and elected officials of the Georgia.
Academic freedom, be it in history, science, or any other subject, is
an absolute imperative of a good education. No extraneous political or religious
concerns should impose on the study of any academic subject. For instance,
evolution, as the basis of much modern science, must be taught, without
reservation, in our public schools.
Class size and Behavioral controls in the Classroom, whether
implemented by the addition of more teachers,
para-professional, or parent volunteers, is a major priority. Small,
well-disciplined classes offer the best climate for learning.
Technology is a fact of life in the twenty-first century and should be
included in the classroom as early as possible, starting with a course on
key-boarding in the early grades. Students who already have this expertise and
can demonstrate it through testing should be given a pass on this course. New
students entering the system should also be tested for computer competency .
Those whose skills are low should be required to take a course to improve their
skills.
Habits of regular exercise and good nutrition can be instilled in our
students from an early age. Recess and mini-breaks are necessary for refreshing
young minds to enable them to absorb materials better. Increasing societal
problems with obesity and its concomitant diseases demonstrate a need to
re-institute the requirement for physical education from kindergarten through
high school. In school cafeterias choices of healthy foods and drinks, and the
elimination of empty calories and vending machines should ensure that our
children get nutritious meals. Health classes should stress, from early on, ways
that those who are indoors can exercise, the elements of a healthy diet, and the
consequences of a careless life-style on one's health. Healthy living support
groups in the school should be offered to students who would like help with such
matters.
Foreign languages should be introduced into the curriculum as early as
possible. Early childhood is when the sounds and nuances of language are learned
almost effortlessly. Most certainly, these languages should be a part of the
course of studies by middle school and through senior
year in high school. Through the study of languages much is learned about other
cultures, increasingly valuable knowledge in our era of globalization.
Visual Art, Music and Drama comprise a valuable component in the
education of the whole person. Literacy in the arts enable students to perform,
create, analyze, and describe and connect their own life experience with all of
humanity. For many students education in the arts will lead to satisfying
careers or life-long interests.
Special Education: Accountability is a difficult tool to implement in
Special Education. However, the "No Child Left Behind" act requires that it be
done. Moreover, the importance of passing the Georgia Exit Exams to improve job
marketability requires that the expected standards of our special education
population be raised. Special education small group classes should not be a
one-room school house with K-5 classes, but should be geared to similar age
ranges and material content as well as disability type. Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act mandates should be fully funded. Paperwork should be
minimized so teachers have the time to implement the Individualized Education
Plans tasks. Parents should be a vital part of the Individual Education Plan
process.
Vocational Education is under attack. Funds for many of its programs
are being cut. The consequences are dire for our society. The current wasteful
approach to what are, essentially, repair problems have dubbed us the
"throwaway" society. (This same mind-set also leads to whole forests being
decimated so we can have the convenience of disposable paper products could just
as easily be replaced by cloths and sponges for many uses.) The situation when
it comes to repairs is due to a scarcity of individuals skilled in producing and
repairing the parts needed for the maintenance of motors and engines. AAUW
supports Vocational Education programs.
AAUW advocates zero tolerance and the full penalties of the law against
the perpetrators of sexual harassment or other sex crimes involving students
and/or teachers, whether in the schools, school buses, playgrounds and sports
arenas where such behavior may occur. All such areas must be harassment and
crime free zones, including the elimination of bullying and taunting. School
Boards must do whatever it takes, within the parameters of the law, to effect
this.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the Federal statute
prohibiting sex discrimination in Education. AAUW supports Title IX and opposes
many efforts that weaken its effectiveness in ensuring equal opportunity for for
all students. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment by any employee or agent of
the school, which was confirmed by in a 1981 U.S. Department of Education's
Office for Civil Rights memo.
School Vouchers would divert public funds to private and religious
schools which are not required to meet the same standards, requirements, and
laws as public schools. Such programs weaken the public school system by using
already scarce funds for schools outside the public school system. In addition,
the voucher program contains language which is inconsistent with Title IX, which
we strongly support. AAUW opposes any measure which would divert funds from
public schools to other entities.
Charter Schools, in the cases where such schools meet the same
standards as public schools with regard to teacher qualifications and salaries,
and are in compliance with all the same laws, standards, and requirements
governing the public school system, are supported by AAUW.
The Curriculum should be backed by demonstrating the benefits of what
is offered. For instance, when changes are made, such as the teaching of world
history in third grade, answers to questions such as "Has it been tried
elsewhere?" and "What were the results of this?" and "What does the science tell
us?" should be considered beforehand.
Specifics of what should be taught in a course of studies and a time frame
for it, should be made available to individual teachers who are held
accountable, subsequently, for their students' test scores.
Truancy is a continuing problem in our communities. Students who skip
classes and whole days on a regular basis cannot receive a cohesive education.
Statistics show those who engage in truancy are more likely to commit more
serious offenses. AAUW supports measures to curtail truancy.
Testing is a necessary tool to determine a student's standing in in
relation to others in their own communities and nation-wide. Institutions of
higher learning use SAT scores to evaluate their applicants capabilities with
regards to the acquisition of the building blocks of knowledge. It is the
presentation of them and instilling of of them, which ultimately determines test
performance. AAUW supports measures which create a positive and supportive
climate in our schools to enable students to best learn the required materials.
School principles and superintendents should make this their first priority.
Finally, we ask that the mandates of "The No Child Left Behind" act either be
fully funded or be abrogated as unworkable due to lack of funds due to its
proper implementation.
We in AAUW, Georgia salute the many dedicated educators and administrators
who labor selflessly, under a heavy burden of responsibilities, to serve the
children who are the future of our communities. We believe that excellence in
education gives our children the tools of knowledge and reasoning which allow
them to become enlightened and responsible leaders and citizens, thus ensuring
the best possible future for our society.
We ask our Boards of Education everywhere, our educators, administrators and
legislators to be satisfied with nothing less than excellence. If we all work
together for quality education, principled policy, informed decision-making and
generous community support for education for Georgia students, we will surely
achieve excellence!
"Knowledge is power." Francis Bacon
"Knowledge is happiness." Helen Keller
"Knowledge is the food of the Soul." Plato
Written by Maria Guijarro Wilson in collaboration with AAUW, Cobb County.
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