Jonathan Brostoff releases education position paper

Yesterday I posted an entry highlighting the education priorities of Sara Geenen, one of the four Democrats running for the State Assembly in the 19th Assembly district.

I later received an email from Democratic candidate Jonathan Brostoff, one of Geenen’s opponents, announcing the release of his position paper on how to strengthen our state’s education system. Here’s Brostoff’s position paper.

“Education was a contentious topic at last week’s Candidate Townhall and, given several major disagreements between some of the candidates, the release of this position paper will give members of the community a better perspective on how I want to improve our neighborhood schools.”

Brostoff, endorsed by more school board members than any candidate in the race, is supported by Milwaukee Board of School Directors Vice President Meagan Holman, Director Mark Sain, Director Claire Zautke, in addition to Greenfield School Board Directors Robert Hansen and Rick Moze.

“One of my top priorities is to reinvest in public education in Wisconsin. The state should be investing more in our public school system; our children’s success dictates whether or not we succeed.”

“In order to improve our public schools, we must first eliminate the failed and costly school voucher program. Through our current budget flaw, we are siphoning money from our public education system and it is time that we level the educational playing field in our communities.”

“Secondly, I think it is important to implement universal K-­3 education programs. Pre-K education programs promote health, nutrition and parent involvement services, enrich family relationships, foster physical and emotional well­-being and help develop strong cognitive skills.”

“Smaller class sizes are also effective in allowing students to get the individualized attention they deserve as well as in raising achievement levels, especially for our most at-risk kids.”

“Finally, we need to encourage greater community engagement to build partnerships that can develop the broad-based support and collaboration our children need.”

“To create lasting success in education, we need to elect a legislator that is a strong advocate for defending and improving our public education system. By enacting my proposed changes, Wisconsin’s education system can get back to providing our children with all the necessary tools to succeed in school and in life.”

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14 thoughts on “Jonathan Brostoff releases education position paper

  1. I would enthusiastically endorse candidate Jonathan Brostoff’s proposals for the
    reform of the public school system, with one exception.

    We have all been confounded by the extraordinary examples of public school shootings recently. And despite resounding cries for corrections and reforms of various implementation, the matter seems to be getting worse. Worse, except for parochial (catholic) and other religious or private schools.

    I know of not a single instance of a catholic parochial school student gun violence perpetrator. These safe havens are threatened, however. Because of increasing and–to many families–unbearable costs, parochial schools are accepting voucher funds meant for alternate Charter school education.

    Many such students will be disenfranchised if the voucher funds are withdrawn. It would seem that instead of voucher checks, a system of tax credits for private, religious or special education based on income and need would be easier and fairer to implement without political bias or influence.

    1. I am sorry…but there should be no public dollars for religious schools. Voucher programs should be phased out…current students can continue until they complete their schooling or leave the school or state…but no new vouchers.

      1. I am sorry…but there should be no public dollars for religious schools.

        I don’t understand this bias. I did a study of this decades ago when the bishop of our diocese wanted to “phase out” parochial education due to the increasing inability to staff the schools with religious along with higher costs.

        Then, even with lay teachers the parochial schools were producing better SAT scores, with the added catechism curriculum, at HALF the cost per pupil of public schools. With religious now almost solely in administration, if available at all, that cost is probably not relatively the same.

        These kids are not taking money out of public education and producing as good if not better results–even today–except for the ones who qualify for voucher dollars. If this becomes a tax write off instead of vouchers, there would be no public education dollars.

        1. “If this becomes a tax write off instead of vouchers, there would be no public education dollars.”

          Do you mean the in same way that Walker’s tax breaks for his favored job creators added spendable income to the overall state budget so Scooter didn’t need to borrow $3B?

          1. Your response doesn’t seem like logic; Merely bias against people of faith, which actually helps to keep Scottie and his ilk on top. I realize this bias is a reaction to a bias, but that still doesn’t help our cause.

            1. I understand that my statement may not have made sense to you because it was mild sarcasm. Giving already profitable corporations tax breaks is exactly why the rest of us mere citizens are stuck with less money for education, county operations and deteriorating state infrastructure and why Walker needed to borrow $3B to magically make it appear that he balanced the state budget and has produced a, “surplus.”

              I am a person of faith, totally atheistic but I have faith, so your perception of some bias I might be harboring is laughable. Religious affiliated schools should be getting no breaks from taxes for anything, including their buildings, property, or for the parents of the students attending them. I feel the same about all the additional tax breaks Walker has created for corporations as, “incentives” to expand and hire more workers which has amply been shown to not be the least bit effective. No bias about religion or big business paying for their privileges of being part of a just and functioning society, clear enough?

              When you mention in closing, “our cause,” nothing you have said indicates who you are talking about or including.

  2. Mass shootings in parochial schools…so far apparently not…but there are several stories of student’s committing or attempting suicide by gun in parochial schools.

    Here’s one from about a year ago; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/cincinnati-la-salle-school-shooting_n_3177836.html

    btw: school shootings aren’t a recent occurrence, it goes back to the 18th Century:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States

  3. I thought Brostoff would have gotten some support, but this campaign has really turned into a 2 person race between Dan Adams and Marina Dimitrijevic.

    1. Stan- What makes you say that? I’m not in Milwaukee anymore, but Brostoff seems to have quite a few people in his stable. So I’m
      curious to see where your analysis comes from.

      1. From what I see, he has a little support, a lot less than I thought he would get, and Adams has surprisingly locked up a most of the anti-Marina vote.

  4. Most students who are using vouchers to attend religious schools were already doing so without the vouchers. Parochial schools do not educate everyone. Even without the special needs students, voucher schools are not producing better results. People who are not certified teachers are educating students in these schools. Religious schools should not be funded with public tax dollars. All schools receiving tax dollars should be held accountable and meet the same standards as public schools. They should take the same students, same tests and meet the same standards.

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