Freedom Dogs

45B House candidate Gregg Prest writes today concerning his hopes for public schools. He lives in ISD 281. During last fall's referendum vote very mixed public opinion on the effectiveness of and the funding for the district was registered and ended in a no vote.

Our beloved District is hampered by several foundational problems outside of its control; I would like the schools to have complete control over education policy.  Unfunded mandates or even some funded mandates from the Federal and State government should be fought, rescinded or ignored.  Our District can't take these battles on alone but until they are addressed the District is set up for a sub-optimal result or even failure.

Imagine a classroom where teachers are left unfettered to plan their lessons and then teach, with minimal administrative chores, setting up a calendar no longer largely dictated by others and free to discipline without the fear of excessive liability.  Teachers with such control would be more highly motivated now that they would be better able to perform their day in the way they all along had believed they had been called to do.

Imagine a school where teachers who have long since burned out can be moved along.  Exceptional teachers going over the call of duty and whose classrooms are vibrant and the kids are correspondingly responsive are recognized and rewarded for a job well done.

Imagine a school district where each school has its own diversity in content and structure reflective of its leaders and teachers.  Some can choose more structure others can adopt a creative focus.  Parents can move their students about in the environment that best suits the needs of their child.  Testing is done to allow measuring and accountability within the district.  But testing is only done by the district and no longer done for purposes mandated by others outside of the district.

Imagine school boards that have real power and authority to set the vision of the district and then hold it accountable to that vision. Make them something more than the disciplinary or commendation boards that they primarily are today.  Captains of industry in the local community would be more willing to serve with such power.

Imagine parents paying attention to their kid's performance, holding them accountable but also questioning as necessary what is happening in each classroom their child attends.  As problems arise parents get engaged and stay engaged elevating the problem as high as necessary to achieve action.

Imagine students coming to school knowing they will be safe. Those students who are not there to learn are no longer there but are sent somewhere else until they change or graduate.

Imagine a state and country that allows the districts to operate unfettered and free.  In that freedom some districts will flourish and should be elevated for all to learn from.  Others will under perform and their local parents need to react.  Because despite what you may think
education has always been a local issue.

Voters and a willingness to take action over the long haul is what we need to turn this vision into reality.  All things in life that are truly worthy of our time involve persistence and hard work.