Alan's Positions
THE WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN INCLUDING EDUCATION
Our
children should be protected from harm and provided with an
education that enables them to reach for their American dream.
I
grew up in Southwest Minneapolis. When I was a child, we didn’t lock
our doors, my parents didn’t fear for my safety when I was out
playing, we all knew each other, the neighborhood schools were
great. It was a different time, a better time. We can build back our
neighborhoods to what they once were, and even make them better.
This will require our individual involvement combined with the
active support and coordinated efforts of government, educational
institutions, law enforcement, philanthropists and community-based
organizations.
Regarding education,
I support education as a national priority, but with local and
parental control provided that states regulate towards incentives to
encourage families to send their children to neighborhood schools. I
believe that children need to understand the concept of community.
Therefore, a cohesive neighborhood is, in itself, an important
educational tool. So, I will support legislation increasing the
competitiveness of neighborhood schools in the education market
through federal funding. This will include providing grants to
neighborhood schools that lack the resources to provide the children
in their community with a quality education so that the school will
be as competitive as any in its market.
School safety should be a national priority and I will support
legislation that will drive states to ensure that our schools are as
safe as possible, while respecting the rights of students.
I will support legislation that encourages respect for teachers.
I will support legislation encouraging schools to foster good
citizenship (patriotism, self-esteem, social skills, environmental
and social responsibility).
I will introduce legislation creating a monetary incentive directed
towards children in families below the national median income level.
They will receive this monetary incentive provided that they
graduate from high school and demonstrate good citizenship. This
incentive will be used for higher education only. The idea of this
legislation is to provide opportunities to underprivileged youth who
exhibit good citizenship.
I will support legislation involving the deductibility (income tax)
of tuition for higher education.
BACKGROUND
It
is important that we have representation in Congress whose heart has
been shaped through active parenting. I am a devoted father. My son,
Louis, is the center of my life and I have worked hard to ensure
that he has a good life. I talk to him and listen to him, care for
him always, read to him, help him with his homework, bring him to
his activities, cook for him, clean for him, meet with his teachers,
take him to doctors appointments, et cetera.
I am a teacher. I have taught at the Carlson School of Management
for more than a decade. Moreover, I have taught children and have
had significant exposure to early childhood development issues. My
experience helps me to understand the challenges that teachers and
students face. One size fits all education clearly doesn’t work.
Background, cultural influence, varying life goals and the variety
of learning styles among children necessitates broad curriculum
leeway and varying approaches to instruction. Moreover, the
importance of envisioning cannot be underestimated. Teachers that
are good do not just teach course curriculum, they help the students
envision their potential through the courses they teach.
