Iowa Candidates on Education 2012: Eric Cooper, Libertarian, House District 45

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Eric Cooper, Libertarian, House District 45

Education is one of my two big issues (along with drug legalization). I think the answer to all of our educational problems is to attach any state funding "to the child" and let the child go wherever the parents want. As such, I think all of the questions you have listed are moot. I think parents should be able to send their child to any type of school they want that has whatever rules they want about each of the issues you have listed.

1 comment:

Amesvoter said...: Got my vote bro, filling out the ballot now. If you get in, push the drug thing through. Grow weed not corn!; October 3, 2012 at 5:56 PM

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The Questions

1. Opting out of testing. Many parents are concerned that important educational values are being sacrificed because of the use of high-stakes standardized testing to evaluate kids, schools, and educators. Would you support legislation to permit parents to opt their children out of such testing without repercussions?

2. Cuts in lunch and recess. In our district, the time devoted to recess has been reduced, and the elementary school students get only fifteen minutes or less to eat lunch. District officials attribute those changes directly to state pressure to teach more material and maximize “instructional minutes.” (See posts here and here.) What, if anything, should the state do to remedy the situation?

3. Local control. Because of state and federal regulation, individual communities now have relatively little control over the educational policies that govern their schools, and many parents feel that they have little to no say over what goes on in their kids’ schools. Do you think that local school districts should have more control over educational policy? If so, in what specific ways?

4. More school? Should state law require all kids to spend more time in school – either by lengthening the school day, extending the school year, or both? (See this post.)

5. PBIS. The state Department of Education wants to require all school districts to implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a program that uses material rewards to train kids to reflexively obey school rules. (See posts here and here.) Do you support requiring all school districts to use PBIS?

6. Class size. Do you agree with our state Director of Education that we should tolerate larger class sizes in exchange for programs designed to “improve educator effectiveness”?

7. No Child Left Behind. Have No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top done more harm than good, or vice versa? Should Iowa opt out of No Child Left Behind, even if it means forgoing federal funds?