Jim Holt on Education

Republican challenger for Senate (AR)

Teacher-led prayer in public schools

Q: Do you support or oppose teacher-led prayer in public schools?

A: Support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Apr 21, 2010

Parents choose schools via vouchers

Q: Do you support or oppose parents choosing schools via vouchers?

A: Strongly Support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Apr 21, 2010

Repeal the terrible No Child Left Behind Act

No Child Left Behind is terrible. The provisions of the act cannot be met. You cannot guarantee that no child will be left behind, because children are human beings. Human beings are not machines where if you hit the right button you are guaranteed a certain outcome. We have free will. Some children will choose, on their own, to not push themselves to the standards of excellence that their government says they should attain. In many cases, their parents will agree with them. And you know what that is called? It’s freedom. I value education, and I am sorry that not everyone values it as much as I do, but it’s their choice, not the federal government’s. I’d repeal it. I don’t know how many teachers I talk with and they all say the same thing. They aren’t allowed to teach. They know that there are no cookie-cutter children. They know that they can’t effectively do their job when the government is requiring them to spend 40 to 60 percent of their time doing paper work. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, “Issues” Jul 12, 2004

Support the use of taxpayer-funded vouchers

I support the use of taxpayer-funded vouchers to send children to private schools. But if the government wants more control for vouchers, then I would oppose them. Private and religious schools already have incredible test scores. Why would we want to handicap them the way we have our own public education system? Vouchers are not the best system, but it is a good step in the right direction. I believe parents have the right to decide where their children attend school, not the government. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, “Issues” Jul 12, 2004

Eliminate the Department of Education & NEA

I would eliminate the Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts. Source: Campaign website, JimHolt.us, “Issues” Jul 12, 2004

Teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools

Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
Holt says, “This depends upon if they believe what our ‘Christian’ founding fathers believed in - Freedom of Religion *NOT* Freedom *FROM* Religion.”

Source: Ark. Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 2002

Vouchers OK for public, private, religious schools

Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.

Source: Ark. Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 2002

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Page last updated: Nov 26, 2010