Boost America's Science, Math and Liberal Arts Education with New Technology

We must re-open quality education throughout Minnesota to achieve MN Constitution's goals

Voting and Education in the Minnesota Constitution.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS

Section 1. Uniform system of public schools.The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools. The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state.

Sec. 2. Prohibition as to aiding sectarian school.In no case shall any public money or property be appropriated or used for the support of schools wherein the distinctive doctrines, creeds or tenets of any particular Christian or other religious sect are promulgated or taught.

Tina Smith wants more money to open the schools in the fall. I don't think this is the time for her to back demands from teachers who are not willing to open. We should make sure we protect the health of teachers, staff and students. But money has already been given by the federal government to the state to re-open the schools, now is not the time for public teachers unions to use school re-opening as a bargain chip! And the state legislature should already have addressed this issue. Maybe the teachers didn't do their homework?

Yes you can -- Steve Carlson wants free higher education

"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries"; U.S. Constitution Article I Section 8

We need to develop new internet-based teaching programs, using the Internet to teach science and math, which are widely available in and outside of the schools and classrooms and allow high quality self-paced learning, and also by community-based efforts outside the schools, and available in different languages. No child need be left behind if they have internet access, but we as a country just cannot afford to be left behind, and we are.

I will work with the State and the schools to redirect and improve federal support to local education in the area of math and science. We need to accelerate learning and capability, not socially re-engineer our schools. Social engineering is politics, not education. We need new attitudes to acquiring knowledge and education. These are what we need to preserve our freedoms and maintain our prosperity, and what I will do in the field of education:

• I will strengthen and broaden the federal education programs science and mathematics to support teaching to all students, and especially those who show an interest, with the aim of strengthening America’s technological and energy knowledge and capabilities;

• I will work with schools to ensure that students learn how the country is governed by the federal and state constitutions (voting, purpose of government, budget and taxes, powers and duties of office) and our history.

Independence Party Platform Core Value

"An educated citizenry with the knowledge and understanding

to preserve our freedoms and maintain our prosperity."

Protect Students from Student Loans by Lowering College Tuition.

In 1982 I wrote the charter for the nation's first tuition student union for the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. With all the cheerleading for educational spending (50% of the state budget is for education), universities in general, rather than quickly bringing prices down, are filling their coffers with taxpayer money for federal financial aid programs! At that time I could not imagine tuition rates at the University of Minnesota as high as $500 a quarter. But today, $500 a quarter seems like an educational paradise! When I started in 1969, I paid $85 per quarter! According to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, it's supposed to be free "for all who are residents of the territory"! (SEE Art. VIII. Sec. 3. University of Minnesota. "All the rights, immunities, franchises and endowments heretofore granted or conferred upon the University of Minnesota are perpetuated unto the university." Sec. 12. The admission fee to the University and the charges for tuition in the several Departments thereof, shall be regulated and prescribed by the Board of Regents; and as soon as in their opinion, the income of the University fund will permit, tuition in all of the Departments shall be without charge to all students in the same, who are residents of the Territory.) (SEE ALSO Territorial Laws 1851, Chapter 3. Perpetuated by the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, Article 8, Section 4. Chap. III. -- An act to incorporate the University of Minnesota, at the Falls of St. Anthony. Sec. 12. The admission fee to the University and the charges for tuition in the several Departments thereof, shall be regulated and prescribed by the Board of Regents; and as soon as in their opinion, the income of the University fund will permit, tuition in all of the Departments shall be without charge to all students in the same, who are residents of the Territory.) "University of Minnesota Charter" Does the income of the University fund really require that we raise tuition rates with the same reckless abandon with which we drive up health care costs?! I think not. We should follow the Minnesota Constitution and expand access. The quality of our education is not improving, only the costs.

But for establishing that tuition union, and for working for the civil rights of Chicano students at the University, I encountered severe political retaliation from University administrators and even federal officials, and my federal financial aid was illegally cut off. This affects me even today. I had taken out a small student loan and President Clinton, unfortunately, removed all protections against abuse in the student loan program, and the Department of Education does not help students abused by the system of federal guaranteed loans.

My purpose is to advance education, not to criticize educators or protect myself. This problem are real access to education has escalated, because today the Obama administration has nationalized the student loan industry completely. I want to help protect America's students from this kind of abuse and just the whole burden of school expenses, which drive many potentially successful students away from higher education.

Trust me when I say, I will fight any abuse, even individual cases with the power of my office. I will review actions of the federal courts to ensure the laws of Congress are being given effect, or I will act. I will not allow judges to destroy our civil rights in the area of education. I will pursue, nationally, individual cases and my staff will address the ongoing abuse in the student loan program. In most cases, abuses go unadressed because the United States asserts sovereign immunity and will not let abuses be addressed in the courts. I will change that, so that Americans will no longer be afraid to pursue education that can improve their lives and our society.

Independence Party Platform Principle

"We support policies that will allow rural businesses

to compete effectively in the global economy and...

government initiatives to assure that affordable and state-of-the-art

internet connections are readily available to all citizens."

Use education technology to provide quality education, cut tuition and costs.

In addition, I will promote the use of the Internet to create higher-quality education and much, MUCH lower costs based on the learning resources available in America right now through the Internet--before that fleeting advantage slips away. I will seek the support of teachers and their organizations, and students, and their organizations. We cannot continue to accept the aimless deterioration of learning and education in America today. I am a post-Sputnik baby-boomer, and I believe the generations who came after should have the benefit of a targeted approach to expanding access to real knowledge, and use it to create real opportunity. I am troubled that so many today want to tear down America, not preserve it.