We parents are getting frustrated that our kids are falling so far behind those in other countries. It's clear that education is important to you—you're both fathers who have dedicated your lives to public service—and you're trying hard to improve things, so we thought we'd lend a hand. We rounded up thousands of our closest friends, otherwise known as Parenting's Mom Congress (“like” us at facebook.com/momcongress to join our cause), and came up with the following ten goals. Our kids are the future of this country, and they're counting on you. What's that expression the First Lady likes to use? Let's move!
Stop the Testing Insanity Let's figure out once and for all what kids really need to learn, and how to measure their progress, without forcing teachers to spend all their time on drill-and-kill methods.
Show Teachers Some More R-E-S-P-E-C-T Offer them stipends and tax deductions to help with their education, then pay them more and reward superior performance. According to the National Education Association, the average teacher earns $55,350 a year. The average NBA basketball player: nearly $5 million. Enough said.
Motivate Moms and Dads Get more parents involved with innovative programs, such as reducing their tax burden if they volunteer at school or requiring them to commit to a specific amount of time if their child is accepted in a charter or “choice” public school.
Pony Up for Preschoolers, Too Increase funding for Head Start, Universal Pre-K, and other early-childhood programs so all children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.
Clean Up the Cafeteria Ensure that healthy meals are provided to all children daily.
Reclaim Recess If you really want to fight childhood obesity, make recess mandatory every day and demand more phys-ed classes.
Bandage Their Cuts and Bruises… and treat their allergies, asthma, tummy aches, and whatever else ails them with a full-time nurse in every school building.
Banish Bullies… and any other threats to our children's safety by insisting on adequate security and zero-tolerance policies.
Be Smart About the Arts! Ensure that music and arts education remains a key part of the curriculum in all schools.
Wire Budding Brains Equip all schools with the technology and the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes needed to make our children globally competitive.
