Education Reform

We are facing an education crisis, but there is a solution. It doesn't involve teacher pay - although good wages are tantamount to employing good teachers. The solution involves fixing a failed federal policy. With one act, we can improve teacher morale and retention, create an environment conducive to learning, reduce classroom over-crowding, reduce prison over-crowding, and reduce crime.

Public Law 94-142, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was designed to "...insure that all handicapped children have a free and appropriate public education which includes special education and related services to meet their unique needs." Passed in 1975, it was a noble cause. However, like most vague legislation, this one has been abused. It has come to mean that a disruptive child, who refuses to learn, is classified by the federal government as behaviorally handicapped. They are in a legally protected class, and the federal government mandates their acceptance into classrooms, even if they have no interest in learning! It is why school systems often say they are powerless to remove delinquents.

Right now we force teachers to deal with budding criminals. They are not trained to intervene, nor do they have the time to help, seriously disturbed children. It hampers their ability to teach willing students. It costs the teacher and the other children valuable time and resources, and adds to teacher stress and job dissatisfaction.

The solution is simple and proven effective. Remove troubled teens from the mainstream classroom, and get them the direction they need. The State Training School in Eldora, Iowa has only 209 beds. The children who end up in Eldora are in an extremely high-risk category. These are the kids whose behavior is so abhorrent that Public Law 94-142 cannot protect them. The teachers at Eldora are trained to intervene, and they boast a 70% success rate. Only 30% of children from Eldora are processed through the adult judicial system. Compare that with 90% of similar high-risk children who CONTINUE to be forced on the public school system because of Public Law 94-142. Eldora's teachers have turned many at-risk children into productive citizens, and effectively reduced the prison population!

Repeal Public Law 94-142, and divert funds for new prisons instead to new State Training Schools for youths in each District and large metropolitan area. Allow only children who demonstrate a willingness to learn into the classroom. This plan uses existing funds to alleviate school AND prison over-crowding, and creates an environment in schools conducive to learning. Let's get troubled children the appropriate help and guidance they so desperately need, while providing our teachers the opportunity to teach rather than act as security guards.