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President
George Bush states, "Leave no child
behind." I state: “Leave no American
behind." When we look at the educational make up of our 37th
District, many Americans have been left behind. Some are poor,
some are left behind because their jobs have been transferred in foreign
countries. No one knew it then but NAFTA (National American Free
Trade Agreement) was a bad investment for American labor.
Then we have
the Welfare system that was modified by the Clinton Administration.
It was a good philosophy but a horrible plan to send welfare moms to work
without tracking their success. The concept of changing the cycle
of moms then daughters on welfare was great. However when many
went to school some still could not find employment after graduation.
The system worked for a little while, but after being trained their welfare
benefits terminated, so today as a consequence many are without food,
shelter or a job. Some families were forced to split up just to
survive.
I want to legislate a change to be re-educated. This would include
all Americans. Welfare began with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was
he who changed the pages of the history books. Welfare was created to
assist single mothers with children. So the separation of the
minority family started to evolve. As long as a woman continued to
have children but told Social Services, she did not know where her husband
was, or the father of her children, she could receive welfare.
Many minority
men was having a difficult time finding work or keeping their jobs, so
meeting their financial obligation was already a challenge due to the
social bias in our society, so many of just left home. They left
their children behind to perhaps better their lives without them; because
they could not financially meet responsibilities.
Those children
were left behind, and those fathers and mothers were left out of the
rearing cycle for their children as two family unit. The matriarchcal family was borne. The one family unit
usually headed by a woman took on a new meaning. The absent of a male
figure or father became more and more prevalent in African American
minority homes.
I want to legislate academic programs to re-train and re-educate
our adults. I want to legislate programs
that give incentives to corporate American to take a chance on felons, take
a chance on retraining adults to corporate America.
Kindergarten:
Education
plays an important role in the lives of our children. Typically,
children are educated in the beginning at an early age, beginning with
kindergarten at the age of 2 to 2.5 years.
Grade
School: In
the last few years, more emphasis has been placed on higher education in
many of the less conservative schools throughout the country.
Students are now graduating with from elementary school getting diplomas
and some with bachelor of arts or science (college degrees) unlike a few years ago this occurred only rarely.
Teacher
Training: A
teacher-training programs, can benefit both
student and employer. If we legislate a
program and partner with university and businesses we can produce a program
that leaves no American behind.
Vocational
Training: In
addition to teacher training, vocational training courses (electrical,
plumbing, motor vehicle mechanics, and swine
management technician) can all be taught to re-train Americans. We
need to legislate change, the Job Corp center
deals mainly with young adults, these programs would legislate programs for
felons, and adults who have been misplaced in our system.
Apprenticeship:
In
addition to formal education, apprenticeship programs could assist our
students in getting hands on experience and allow him to learn while still
being trained.
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