Education is much more than schooling. It is the whole range of activities by which families and communities transmit to a younger generation, not just knowledge and skills, but ethical and behavioral norms and traditions. It is the handing over of a cultural identity. That is why American education has, for the last several decades, been the focus of constant controversy, as centralizing forces from outside the family and community have sought to remake education in order to remake America. They have done immense damage. The federal government should not be a partner in that effort, as the Constitution gives it no role in education.

Parents are a child’s first and foremost educators, and have primary responsibility for the education of their children. Parents have a right to direct their children’s education, care, and upbringing. We support a constitutional amendment to protect that right from interference by states, the federal government, or international bodies such as the United Nations.

WE REJECT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH TO EDUCATION

We support a broad range of choices for parents and children at the state and local level. We likewise repeat our long-standing opposition to the imposition of national standards and assessments, encourage the parents and educators who are implementing alternatives to Common Core and congratulate the states which have successfully repealed it. Their education reform movement calls for choice-based, parent-driven accountability at every stage of schooling.

WE APPLAUD AMERICA’S GREAT TEACHERS

Teachers should be protected from frivolous lawsuits and should be able to take reasonable actions to maintain discipline and order in the classroom. Administrators need the flexibility to innovate and to hold accountable all those responsible for student performance. A good understanding of world religion being indispensable for the development of an educated citizenry, we encourage state legislatures to offer the Bible and other religious texts, in a literature curriculum as an elective in America’s high schools.

WE URGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAKE USE OF TEACHING TALENT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

As well as STEM fields, the military, and especially our returning veterans. Rigid tenure systems should be replaced with a merit-based approach to attract the best talent to the classroom. All personnel who interact with school children should pass background checks and be held to the highest standards of personal conduct.

THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY GOP BELIEVES IN A CHANCE FOR EVERY CHILD