Virginia Education Needs an Overhaul

written by Guest Contributor Rick Buchanan September 26, 2016

As many in the Republican Party and certainly in the Tea Party already know, our education system across the state and across the country is in deep trouble. The standing of our youth as compared to other countries is falling, see here, while the money we are asked to give the education system is never enough, see here. The vast majority of educators come from liberal educational experiences where they are trained to indoctrinate our kids, rather than teach them to think. This indoctrination is lacking in both an emphasis on the basics of the three R’s and most conservative principles, while being full of socialistic thought and replete with agnostic teaching lessons, explicit sex and the belief that America is actually an evil nation.

Virginia needs to start the process of “taking back” our educational processes from the far left. I attended an event in northern Virginia back in August that featured Carly Fiorina and Ed Gillespie in a discussion about job creation and economic growth. I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Gillespie initiated a conversation about education in the forum. He stated:

“Both in higher education, and K-12, competition is good for everybody. Competition is good for Coke and it’s good for Pepsi. Competition makes everybody better. Right now, we are too insulated from competition in higher education and in K-12. That’s why I strongly supported Delegate Dave LaRock’s bill for education savings accounts in Virginia. I think ESA’s are very innovative, especially when it comes to special-needs students, but, obviously, we can go broader as well. I think public schools would respond to ESA’s in ways that make our public schools better.”

This was very good news for me. When a candidate for state office is willing to carry the torch for changing our failing educational system with these kinds of ideas, I’m all ears! Having worked with Mr. Gillespie while organizing the Liberty Farm Festival, I reached out to him afterwards to discuss Virginia education. I expressed the need for more openness in our state rules for other competitive forms of educational experiences, including school choice, private schools to include religious schools, homeschooling and online education. He was open to hearing more and even invited me to sit on an Educational Panel he was forming.

Further, we talked about the homeschoolers sports participation legislation, to which he offered this:

For two years in a row, Gov. McAuliffe vetoed commonsense legislation to allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports. I’d sign a “Tebow Bill” in a heartbeat. It’s not fair to deny over 32,000 Virginia homeschoolers the chance to play on their local school sports teams. Parents who choose to homeschool their children pay into our public school system without using the vast majority of public school resources. When I coached girls’ basketball at my daughter’s Catholic school, we had homeschool students on our team and I saw benefits to both them and the school.”

I look forward to future conversations and hope all the candidates for state office will see the value of changing the educational process we now have for the better. We have left the field of play too long to Liberal Democrats. It is time we brought conservative principles back into our educational system and I look forward to working with anyone who feels the same.

Rick Buchanan
Chairman
Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation

Guest Contributor Rick Buchanan

Rick Buchanan is a small businessman and activist in Fauquier County. He currently serves as President of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, and as Vice Chairman of the 5th Congressional District Republican Committee.

Reinhardt Reganbacker lll

Nothing but code for throwing more money at education. I know, you claim to be different than all the other educational reform money slingers. But.

The media likes to jump from one topic to another never focusing long enough on anything to effect a repair.

Why don’t we put all the focus on jobs, and keep the focus on jobs until the problem repaired? Focus on only one issue until there is a solution.

Maybe then something would actually get done in DC.
- Melvin Adams
  
  Real education reform would be in the direction of privatizing education – at least in part. It would engage all the stakeholders (Parents/families, community – civic, faith-based, business, and government – local, state and fed) and properly done would decrease education costs and increase results.
  - Reinhardt Reganbacker lll
    
    Exactly. However, those who have a stranglehold on the current education system, and profit under it, will never give up the reins. Never. They are in fact looking to increase the size and cost of education. Just like higher education is doing now.
Richard Roberts II

Let’s stop the Gillespie love fest. We have an election to win in 2016. Lots of good candidates to look at on November 9th. I encourage Ed to join the others to actively work Trump!
- Rocinante
  
  Yep, my support for Governor is Corey, but Ed could own the 10th if he could convince his good friend Barbara to support the nominee just as she expects the party to support her.
  
  In fact, I’m watching ALL the statewide candidates in 2017 and the nominees will be getting the same intensity of support that they are giving The Donald.
Bruce Hedrick

…This indoctrination is lacking in both an emphasis on the basics of the three R’s and most conservative principles, while being full of socialistic thought and replete with agnostic teaching lessons, explicit sex and the belief that America is actually an evil nation.

What planet do you currently reside on?
- Rocinante
  
  Still Earth, but the place where people actually know and care what the heck a ‘Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation’ is but he is right about the indoctrination — except for the ‘three R’s’ — that’s just trite and from a time where child labor was used to clap erasers clean.
  - Bruce Hedrick
    
    What is the “Virginia Tea Party Patriots Foundation” anyway? Is that Radtke’s group? If so, where has she been lately?
    - Rocinante
      
      I’m curious whether it’s an appointed, elected, or inherited position. And just who/what makes up the VTPPF (‘vitpipef?’ Or do you always have to say the full name?)
      
      And it’s Federation, like the United Federation of Planets, or the World Wrestling Federation. I think that’s important somehow.
      - Waverly Woods
        
        That’s hilarious! I couldn’t respond until I stopped laughing. I love ya Rocinante, just love ya.
        
        Sometimes the VTPPF is a little of both. And by God you’d want them to be. Jamie is one of our founders and an amazing patriot. You don’t have to always say the whole name but to folks that don’t understand what it’s purpose is or never heard of it we say the entire name.
        
        The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a nonprofit c4. It’s purpose is to educate conservatives and grassroots leaders on policy and process.
        
        How we do that? What Jamie Radtke and others started brings over 40 different conservative groups together statewide. We show them how to build there group by educating through others organizations such as the Leadership Institute, Heritage Action, Americans for Prosparity…..
        
        So by working together statewide we unite our efforts to hold our representatives accountable in a nonpartisan way. We share ideas and plites from across the state. Basically we learn how to connect the dots.
        
        The education system is a blaten mess that does indoctrinate not educate. It’s one of many examples of how too much government fails.
        
        See most folks disregard our public schools once their children graduate. That is a major problem for our country’s future. We must leave this world in a better place than we found it. That means every generation must be responsible for the next.
        
        Every level of government needs to take that seriously from president to PTA moms and dads that work with school boards. The next governor will have an opportunity to set an example for the rest of our nation and one the next president would take note of.
- Cam Jones
  
  Bruce,
  These are real issues in education today, and if you can’t see that then you are obviously not living on the same planet WE all are.
  
  Our children are not being taught the basics; and yes, the 3 R’s are fundamental to learning and expressing ones self, and are also fundamental to critical thinking.
  
  If you can’t read, you can’t learn, and if you can’t write, you can’t express your ideas and thoughts, and if you can’t comprehend simple math, then how can you possibly comprehend the complex issues of an economy, national debt, or taxes?
  
  On the other hand, our children are being dumbed down, or worse yet, not taught at all about our Constitution and why it is exceptional, the founding of our nation, and the men and women who created our great country, as well as the truth about the trials and tribulations of our history. Instead they are being taught about such things as social and economic justice, and how various groups of hyphenated Americans are owed this or that because of some perceived injustice in our system or our history.
  
  Is none of this important in your opinion?
  - Bruce Hedrick
    
    Dear God. They are being taught “the basics”. They’re being tested on “the basics”. What planet do you live on?
    - Cam Jones
      
      Bruce,
      You keep asking what planet people live on; I’m thinking you’re feeling pretty alone on whatever planet it is that you’re on.
      
      In the vernacular of some of our youth; I live on “Earf”, and you?
      
      Have you by chance looked at how our students, who back in the day were ranked number one in the word in the basics, now rank among civilized countries?
      
      Cam
      - Bruce Hedrick
        
        Yep. I attend and cover our local school board meetings. None of the crap you or the author are babbling about happens here.
      - Cam Jones
        
        Good for you Bruce!
        
        Where is “here”?
        
        If it’s not happening “here” then it can’t be happening anywhere, and I guess YOU’RE right and everyone else who sees it happening in other places are just full of crap.
        
        Cam
      - Cam Jones
        
        Bruce,
        
        Is “here” Richmond by chance? If so, you might want to read this:
        
        http://fauquierfreecitizen.com/richmond-school-sanctions-abortion-advocacy-group/
Rick Buchanan

If you believe out children’s education is on an election cycle, you’ve not paying attention. If you think the majority of our children are not being indoctrinated, you have not invested any time learning about the public education system of today, and if you think most of our kids can think for themselves after a public education, try hiring one of them.
It is time to give parents the ability to choose the best school or learning platform for their children.
- Rocinante
  
  Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s all about the children, but it can wait until after November.
  - Melvin Adams
    
    You are absolutely wrong on this point. This issue is not a distraction.
    - Rocinante
      
      Presidential election this November, Govermor election not so much. It can wait.
    - Rocinante
      
      How so? What is the urgency here and now?
  - Turbocohen
    
    Waited too long, this is a top priority for Va.
    - Rocinante
      
      Top priority? What am I missing here?
Susan Lascolette

This is a complex problem, and one article barely scratches the surface. When the feds pays part of the cost of K-12 education, they demand something in return. The result is that we must do what they say. We all think VA is not a Common Core state, but our SOL’s are aligned with CC and we use CC textbooks. (Do yourself a favor – the next time your local school district is selecting textbooks, go and look at their choices. Pay special attention to books produced by Pearson Education. I predict that you are not going to be happy with what you find.)

The simple answer is to give more control to local school districts PLUS have them compete for students. Competition is the great equalizer, and the parents need to be in charge of their child’s education. Local school districts are being held back from implementing so many great ideas and the students lose.

But into this mix, we must consider that in America, we educate EVERY child. Despite language or developmental or physical difficulties, we attempt to teach everyone. This is not true in many nations around the world and this fact skews our comparison numbers. But, it is not these results that is troubling, it is the content of the education that encourages “group think” under the guise of “getting along with everyone”, history books that ignore or delete whole events and time frames, and abandonment of our moral principles.

Don’t forget about data collection from preschool until gradation from HS – and into the workforce.
I hope Gillespie is talking to the great education innovators in the state – we are fortunate to have quite a few.

Now, let’s get Trump elected!
Melvin Adams

Rick, thank you for addressing one of the most critical policy issues there is – the education of our children and grandchildren.

Frankly, this is an area Republicans and Conservatives have neglected for decades and Progressives have owned. That is why our schools have become test labs and indoctrination centers for their erroneous ideology.

Let’s face it, we are what we think and we think as we are taught. The only solution to restoring this nation and keeping it from implosion, with exception of an authentic revival of the Church, is to gain control over education. As Lincoln reportedly stated, “The
philosophy of the classroom in this generation will determine the philosophy of politics, government and life in the next.”

Too many avoid this debate because it confronts the largest, most powerful union in the nation (NEA) and it is not a sound-bite solution or something that can be fixed quickly and easily. However, it is the root political issue before us from a philosophical perspective.

In my opinion, this discussion is NEVER out of season and is one we should DEMAND everyone running for public office speak to. I commend any politician who has the courage to do so with intent, whether they will have my vote or not. I assure you that my vote will follow a candidate that gets this issue right.

Melvin Adams
FCRC Chairman
CD5 Vice Chairman
David Dickinson

Very glad to hear Gillespie say, “That’s why I strongly supported Delegate Dave LaRock’s bill for education savings accounts in Virginia. I think ESA’s are very innovative, especially when it comes to special-needs students, but, obviously, we can go broader as well.” (emphasis mine)
It would be very nice to have a Governor who takes education seriously and actually seeks solutions to improve results.
FrankUnderwoodSr

Education reform is a massive problem and has very long term consequences. If we are lucky enough to get a working majority in government, we should make hay while the sun is shining, and tackle this problem seriously.

Our public education system has been so thoroughly corrupted, that it is no longer possible to get serious reform within the system. Nobody in Richmond can fix this from the top down. Too many people with too many fiefdoms at all levels of government, and huge powerful union resistance.

I believe the author is on the right track. We must enable competition from outside the public system, so that parental choice will force public educators to reform, or wither away. My guess is they’ll still wither away and die before they’ll reform. But either way, choice and competition is the key to getting serious education reform instituted.
zke007

Gillespie might be heck of a nice guy, but, tied to Bush forget it.
Education, start with cutting sports.
Look at all the new school being built, all gyms, football, basketball space.
Where are the class rooms
- Turbocohen
  
  Tied to Contract For America too.. EG 2017
Lawrence Wood

The establishment “buzz word” candidate Ed Gillespie is all about improving Virginia education so he claims and proves his heartfelt concern by embracing Mr. (home school) Virginia delegate himself Dave LaRock and his plan to taxpayer underwrite these and other Christian private school educated children’s parents with the state’s taxpayers cash via ESA programs that regardless of how much they spin the realities don’t recoup educational costs to local school districts.

Is this a “state” plan, no I think NOT, it is more of a check off on an agenda item to the Conservative Fellowship wing of the Virginia Republican party for future support consideration. Shame on the Virginia Tea Party members and spokespersons that buy this scam. I have no issue with home schooling per se or even ESAs (if implemented correctly as many states have but LaRock’s legislation is taxing policy not schooling policy) and in the end of Virginia’s 1,388,111 enrolled students as of 2016-2017 only 34,212 or “2.5%” of the total population were home schooled.

Again this isn’t a plan it isn’t even a bandaide it’s a cynical political checkoff box to a small group of individuals that have seized a major issue to their own advantage. The noise on the growth of the home school population in Virginia is mainly baloney seeing last year a 1% total increase (33,4125 to 34212).

Overall Virginia districts have remained fairly level growth wise EXCEPT in Northern Virginia which has seen a 10% growth cycle increase in student population since 2000 which is expected to continue into the future. The educational issues in Virginia are and will be in the urban areas and not in the more rural portions of the state where the programs Gillespie is supporting largely effect.

Gillespie has been over his political history a major player in the support and growth of the common core federal curriculum and nary addresses the development and expansion of charter school systems into major US urban areas that is working well across many state educational environments.

I agree a sound, non political discussion of the future direction of the Virginia educational system is called for but you aren’t going to find it here in what is in affect little more then a support consolidation effort for a single candidate and has little to do with Virginia’s students or parents. Conservatives wake up to this type of self serving cant from internal party wing associates directed toward specific constituencies and political practitioners as it is no solution for Virginia’s working and middle class parents and their children, it’s Virginia establishment politics as usual, with this election cycle getting an unusual leg up from a group of so called state conservatives pushed into the background given their recent actions at the Republican National Presidential Convention. It may be early to be discussing this but it’s never to early to dismiss selfserving political agendas.

Virginia Education Needs an Overhaul

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