It is no revelation that parents are the first and most important educators of children.  The institutions of education serve to support this most basic and important role.  Parents set the goals and expectations for their children and are ultimately responsible for decisions around where and how their child is educated.

 

I currently serve as president of the Bremen School Board.  I have an up close and personal understanding of school budgets and government mandates.  I believe that good schools are simply about getting excellent teachers and allowing them the opportunity to teach children.  School is about providing opportunity to students so they can maximize their God-given potential.  Excellence in schools is not about more government mandates and more testing and more power standards.  Excellence is about allowing teachers and students the ability to interact in a safe environment where success is expected and children perform to the best of their ability.  It is not as “pie in the sky” as it sounds.  A quick look at the schools which are outstanding in the country have very little to do with what the government says they should do.  It has a lot to do with motivated teachers and a community that gathers around children.  It is about expecting the best from the staff and students and rewarding achievement when it is actually maintained.  It is not solely about pushing up test scores.  It is about inspiration, goal setting and the expectation of great things. 

 

Enough is Enough!  We have wonderful teachers and students.  It is time to cut down on mandates and increase the rewards for excellence.