Public School Preservation and Growth

If it wasn't for the PUBLIC in education, would you have any education at all?

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I stand in support of public education. Were it not for the ‘Public’ in education most of us would have little or no education. Education would once again become the preserve of elitists with money. Troubled though it may be, public education functions to serve the greater good of humanity and must not only endure, but prosper so that we, as a people, may be our best and achieve our GOD GIVEN potential.

My objective if I am elected is to do everything that I can to bring Utah's per pupil spending in public education up from dead last in the nation. If you are of voting age you probably attended a public school that ranked some where between about 35th to 45th in the nation in per pupil spending. Utah already has the best teachers and the most efficient class rooms. This effort should not go unnoticed, nor should it be unrewarded.

2004  On the floor votes that the Utah Education Association considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Aagard voted their preferred position 30 percent of the time.

2003  On the floor votes that the Utah Education Association considered to be the most important in 2003, Representative Aagard voted their preferred position 25 percent of the time.

2001-2002  On the floor votes that the Utah Education Association considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Representative Aagard voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.

I would like to spend more on education, but the problem is:  the money given to school districts does not trickle down to classrooms, textbooks and teacher salaries, and teacher budgets the way I believe it should. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE AND CHANGE NOW! School districts may need to be fundamentally altered by placing legislative caps on administrators salaries and possibly by making teachers, para-educators and classified personnel state employees, thus guaranteeing uniform fair wages and benefits.

I Believe that many Local school districts are top heavy with overpaid administrators who never miss a pay raise or a 'PERK' (for themselves) even when classroom teachers, Para educators, and classified personnel are left holding an empty beggar's bowl. School districts who ignore or close down the most efficient programs and modern methods of teaching such as the states EdNet Program and other programs for political reasons, should receive serious sanctions on the top administration of that district. It is not right for them to bite the hand that feeds them and they should govern themselves accordingly.

I also realize that Utah has more children than other states per family, but if we are going to have those children, shouldn't we step up and support them?   I'm offering an alternative to the status quo. We are currently spending about $4500 annually per pupil.

The Republicans have controlled the State of Utah the past twenty years and educational programs have suffered from the Republican administrations.

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VOUCHERS

I am opposed to the efforts of some people in this state who claim that they are seeking

"Choice In Education".

We already have Personal Choice in Education. Home school, private schools, and religious schools are here and available. "Choice In Education" is the big lie being told right now.

Its not choice they are asking for

These 'Voucher People' want you to pay for their 'little darling' to attend private schools.

This amounts to a 'welfare' payment of about $2500 on the recipients state income taxes.

Since revenues from the state income tax go to support public schools, one of two things will happen if the voucher people get their way:

A. Public schools could close down. or

B. Public schools could stay open with tax increases to cover the budget shortfalls.

Forcing the taxpayers to subsidize private schools, religious schools, or home schooling is wrong.

Public schools benefit society in general. All taxpayers should contribute, not just the ones who use public education. The assurance of a basically free public education, while not a right, is a praiseworthy and laudable privilege that should be available to all America's children.