Lest you think from my previous two postings that all on Capitol Hill are teaming up to destroy public education, I must include those bills that I think are very encouraging.
HB 65, sponsored by Rep. Arent, is titled “College and Career Counseling for High School Students”. It calls for an additional appropriation to increase the ratio of counselors to students by offering grants for schools to hire and train interns. These interns are to be masters degree candidates in Guidance Counseling. Here again, the need for counselors is great but an unfunded mandate would be unacceptable.
HJR 2 is a resolution sponsored by Rep Poulson, titled “Joint Resolution on World Class Curriculum”. Budget constraints and a focus on grading schools on student achievement have resulted in questioning the value of electives such as art, physical education, and other non-tested subjects. I believe in the benefit of a broad curriculum, including literature, history, foreign language and technology and welcome this reaffirmation.
Another resolution comes from Sen. Jones: SCR 5 “Concurrent Resolution Encouraging Parental Engagement in the Education of Children”. It recognizes the impact that parents can have in helping their children succeed, as well as the policies of the State Board of Education, local districts, and schools that encourage family engagement in education.
While such resolutions do not bind the state to action, they are important affirmations to principle.
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