Talking Education

One day the governor of Maryland was on the radio talking about education so I called in and gave my views and ideas. He said he would get back to me after the election, if he won. A staff member took my telephone number. I got a call yesterday, and they want to meet with me to discuss some of my ideas.

The reason for this is because the race between Gov. Ehrlich and Martin O'Malley, mayor of Baltimore, is close. Education is turning out to be a key issue and it is one where Ehrlich can win because the Baltimore City Public School System stinks.

[ Update 9:00 PM ]

The meeting is tomorrow, Friday. These are the ideas I will bring to the table:

1. All public school students in the state of Maryland must be allowed to transfer to any school that has space. If the student wants to go to a school outside of his school system, the money to educate that student must follow the student to the new school system.
2. All schools in Baltimore that meet the state standards must be allowed to become charter schools without review.
3. All schools in Baltimore that do not meet standards must present a plan to become a charter school. These schools will be forced to under go intense monitoring and are subject to being paired with educational institutions to turn the schools around.
4. Parents of Baltimore city school students will be offered the chance to use school vouchers.
5. All parents of Baltimore city school students will be offered the chance to have tutors and tutoring service paid for until the students leave the public school system via graduation. This holds true even if the students leave the state.
6. All current members of the school board must be terminated.
7. A new school board must be created comprised of the following (I understand this is a huge board and is prone to problems):
   • One board member appointed by the state.
   • One board member appointed by the city.
   • One board member appointed by elementary school teachers. This member must be an elementary school teacher in good standing.
   • One board member appointed by middle/Jr. school teachers. This member must be a teacher in good standing.
   • One board member appointed by high school teachers. This board member must be a teacher in good standing.
   • Four board members who are at large members who are voted into office.
8. All current board members must be blind folded and shot.
9. State tax credit or state tax deduction for parents who get tutors for their children.
10. State tax credit or state tax deduction for parents who have education savings accounts.