Rebekah Kennedy on Education Green Senate challenger

Federal government should supplement teacher compensation

A: The federal government should invest in training qualified teachers and in supplementing teacher compensation, continuing education for teachers and equipment needed to teach science in schools which otherwise lack the budget for purchasing equipment. One of the main reasons that America's schools are failing is a lack of state and local revenues, especially in states and localities in which the population is poor. Another reason is the apathy that come from years of failure. Both students and teachers believe, with some justification, that many students will never have to opportunity to seek a career in a scientific field. Both of these problems make it hard to recruit and retain qualified teachers. If teachers are given reason to hope that their schools can be improved, that hope will spread to students.

Families impart family values, not public schools

A: Do Not Support. Public Schools should teach good citizenship. Only families can impart family values, however they are defined.

Opposes school vouchers

A: Do Not Support. Public schools serve a public function to educate citizens. Parents who disagree with this program of education have a right to educate their children as they see fit, but the citizens of this country and its states have no obligation to pay for an alternative course of education, particularly a religious education. We do have an obligation to improve our public schools. It is to that purpose that our tax dollars should be directed.