Paul Simon on Education
Expand school year from 180 days to at least 210
Our children attend elementary and high school for 180 days a year, while their counterparts in Japan and Germany attend school for 243 days and 240 days, respectively. Can our children learn as much in 180 days as their children learn in 240 days? To
ask the question is to answer it. If we were to increase our school year from 180 days to 210 days-still behind many nations-that would be the equivalent of two more years of school by the time a student finishes the 12th grade.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.131
Jul 2, 1996
Investing in education results in high living standards
Much that is happening in our schools is good, but too many young people graduate from high school without having been challenged, and often without having acquired the basic literacy and math skills everyone needs. The overwhelming reason for our
high standard of living-and that of other industrialized nations-is our investment in people. The US is ahead of all other nations in higher education, though the gap is narrowing. But in elementary and high school education, we are lagging. No matter
who is elected, one trend is not going to change: The demand for unskilled labor is declining. Yet too many young people leave school untrained, although few of them are untrainable.
We need to be more creative, and we need to draw greater numbers of
parents into the education process. And when we encounter parents who lack basic literacy or are severely limited, we should seize the opportunity to train them so the problem is not compounded.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.130
Jul 2, 1996
Investing in education results in high living standards
who is elected, one trend is not going to change: The demand for unskilled labor is declining. Yet too many young people leave school untrained, although few of them are untrainable. We need to be more creative, and we need to draw greater numbers of
parents into the education process. And when we encounter parents who lack basic literacy or are severely limited, we should seize the opportunity to train them so the problem is not compounded.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.130
Jul 2, 1996
End adult illiteracy
We must encourage adults to add to their capabilities and to further their education. In particular, we should promote a major drive to end adult illiteracy. The extent of the problem is stunning. Approximately 23 million adult Americans
cannot read a newspaper or complete a job application properly. This is a huge drain on the resources of our nation. Compounding the adult illiteracy crisis is the knowledge that children in a home where the parents cannot read and write are likely
to perform poorly in school, and many will become high school dropouts. And adults who have extremely limited skills are more likely to be unemployed. A hopeful sign is the discovery that a few third-world nations have been able to improve their
adult illiteracy rates dramatically within just a few years. There is nothing to prevent the US from doing the same. We can wait no longer.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.132
Jul 2, 1996
End adult illiteracy
to perform poorly in school, and many will become high school dropouts. And adults who have extremely limited skills are more likely to be unemployed. A hopeful sign is the discovery that a few third-world nations have been able to improve their
adult illiteracy rates dramatically within just a few years. There is nothing to prevent the US from doing the same. We can wait no longer.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.132
Jul 2, 1996
Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education.
Vote to retain a provision of the Budget Act that funds abstinence education to help reduce teenage pregnancy, using $75 million of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program.
Bill S 1956
; vote number 1996-231
on Jul 23, 1996
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer.
Cut off federal funds to school districts that deny students their right to constitutionally protected voluntary prayer.
Bill S.1513
; vote number 1994-236
on Jul 27, 1994
Voted YES on national education standards.
Approval of national education standards.
Status: Bill Passed Y)71; N)25; NV)4
Reference: Goals 2000: Educate America Act;
Bill H.R. 1804
; vote number 1994-34
on Feb 8, 1994