From Senator Amanda Ragan:
Iowans have always strongly believed in education. As Iowa rebounds from the national recession, investing in education is more important than ever. That’s why the Iowa Legislature focused this year on creating jobs and growing our economy by improving student achievement and expanding educational opportunity.
(PHOTO: The ARC of North Central Iowa held its 2012 membership meeting and awards presentation Monday, June 11, at North Iowa Vocational Center Services in Mason City. I was honored to present awards that evening. Cindy Walker of Mason City was named Self Advocate of the Year.)
We found bipartisan agreement on investing more in our community colleges. These local institutions continue to lead the way in preparing Iowans to fill local skilled job openings. At community colleges, Iowans can get the training, degrees and certifications they need to qualify for in-demand positions that pay well and offer a chance for advancement.
We also reached agreement on keeping college and university tuition affordable so that all Iowa families can take advantage of the educational opportunities that lead to great jobs.
And by investing in STEM—intensified science, technology, engineering and math education—we’re helping K-12 students prepare to be part of a skilled Iowa workforce that attracts high-quality businesses to our state.
Other efforts to help students become successful in the 21st century economy include:
** Ensuring Iowa kids are good readers by keeping class sizes small in kindergarten through third-grade. Smaller classes give young students the one-on-one time they need with their teachers. A new statewide Iowa reading research center will spread the best practices for teaching reading.
** Continuing our commitment to strong local schools by raising academic standards, increasing teacher and administrator effectiveness, and making changes that increase learning. This is a good first step in education reform, our multi-year effort to enhance educational opportunities for Iowa students at all levels.
** Investing in education, research, technology and training facilities necessary to prepare a highly skilled workforce.
In the Senate, I helped pass additional investments in student achievement, including an increase in basic state support for local schools. Unfortunately, the Iowa House did not take up this effort to help our schools pay for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities.
I’ll keep pushing to strengthen Iowa education and job training. It is essential to helping Iowans become more productive, competitive workers, growing our economy and boosting job creation.
The education that they get in college today does NOT prepare them for the work enviroment. There is always a on the job training period. Company’s do not like it but they know it is the only thing that works. I have hired tons of young people right out of college (both ISU and Iowa) and was astounded about how little they really knew. In most cases they were really bright kids with a mind like a sponge but had not been taught the right things. Regan is one of the spend sister’s that only know how to throw taxpayer money at education. They have tried that and it didn’t work. Hiring bad teachers or unqualified teachers just to fill the ranks is the wrong approach and always has been Give control back to the people and the schools and things will change fast.
Businesses want workers that already have the skills an employer desires. If it takes several months to train a worker to become productive, the company loses money. When the company loses money, people get fired.
Businesses have been complaining for over a decade that they cannot find workers with the skills to fill positions. They beg to be allowed to bring in foreign workers from countries that make education a priority.
Would you feel safe in the hands of a doctor who has never seen the inside of an anatomy book? How would you like your lawyer to say, “I don’t know if this is right, it’s just what we do around the office.” Would you feel safe driving over a bridge designed by someone who doesn’t know much about physics or trigonometry?
Education is the foundation for this nation to have an excellent workforce. Not only does an education provide people with the necessary skills to be quickly productive, it also gives people the critical thinking skills and creativity to bring value to business in new and creative ways.
This is not true. The best education in the world is ON THE JOB TRAINING.
The taxpayers no longer are swallowing the “invest in education” BS as a way to future.
No we have spent enough money on education and teachers/professors.
People like Ragan who keep pushing this nonsense will only appeal to the Teachers Union and idiots that still believe throwing money into schools is the answer. Not so.
Sooner or later the taxpayers will get this figured out.
Get a grip Ms. Ragan.