Size Matters

Late last month, when Mitt Romney told teachers in Philadelphia that small class sizes don’t help students, I had dinner with a friend, a teacher who has spent 20 years in the classroom. Her most recent class consisted of 29 kindergarteners, with no aide or outside help. All I could think was how much I would like to see Romney trade places with her – while I have no doubt she could run a great campaign, I would be shocked if he lasted long with 29 five-year-olds!

Not surprisingly, Romney’s position drew immediate criticism from teachers in Philadelphia and beyond. But his position is not just campaign rhetoric – it was reflected time and again in his actions as Massachusetts governor. By his second year in office Massachusetts schools saw the nation’s second largest per-pupil cuts. Romney also attempted to cut funding for early literacy and kindergarten programs, vetoed a bill to create universal pre-kindergarten in Massachusetts, and even questioned the value of early education. I know because I was living in Massachusetts at the time and helped fight against his damaging education policies.

While student success certainly hinges upon many factors, students, parents, teachers and administrators widely agree about the value of smaller classes. Romney’s argument and record otherwise ignores the real challenges facing students and schools today in favor of quick-fix cost-saving measures that are about the bottom line, not about an investment in our students’ – and our country’s – future.

What do you think about Romney’s position that class size doesn’t matter? (Note – a different version of this post first appeared last week on Sarasota Patch.)

Character Counts

Earlier this week I wrote a post for the Sarasota Patch blog about the ongoing ethics problems of Sarasota Congressman Vern Buchanan (problems that are also drawing national attention), and the responsibility voters need to take for electing politicians with integrity. Do you think that ethics issues will – or should – play a deciding role in this and other races across the country? Share your thoughts in the comments.

A Daughter of Immigrants

Happy (belated) Mother’s Day! This holiday and Father’s Day always remind me of the sacrifices my parents – immigrants from Italy – made in coming to America to build a life and a home here in the United States. Whether you also have parents or grandparents that came from other countries, or you have to look back a bit further, nearly all Americans can point to the immigrant experience somewhere in their family trees. We all come from families who came to America to make a better life for themselves, and through their hard work they made a stronger America.

As has happened in the past, however, a strong anti-immigration strain has made headway in our nation, and will be a factor in this coming election. Here in Sarasota, the local Republican Party has initiated several anti-immigrant petition drives – one that would make English the official language of the United States (making life more difficult for all immigrants, including those here legally), and another petition supporting passage of laws similar to the strident anti-immigrant law passed in Arizona in 2010, SB 1070, which encourages racial profiling and harassment of Hispanics and other minorities, regardless of their legal immigration status. At the national level, Mitt Romney has said that America should make it so miserable for undocumented immigrants that they will “deport themselves.” That sounds like support for the Arizona-style laws to me.

In a nation where greatness was built on a foundation of immigrant mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, these harsh and punitive proposals are neither appropriate nor beneficial for America. Instead, like President Obama, I believe that comprehensive immigration reform is needed to protect the interests of Americans while at the same time creating responsible optionsfor those who want to start a life in the United States. The DREAM Act – a bipartisan legislative proposal that would provide a path toward citizenship for young people eager to get an education, work hard, and make a contribution to America’s future – is a key part of his solution.

As President Obama said earlier this month, “we’regoing to keep fighting for this common-sense reform — not just because hundredsof thousands of talented young students depend on it, but because ultimately America depends on it.” Legislation like the DREAM Act allows our nation to continue our proud “melting pot” tradition, while improving our economy by harnessing the talents of young people who want to work hard and make our future brighter. The contrast between the two parties on this critical issue is clear, and as a daughter of immigrants, I hope that we will all remember what is needed to help American families succeed.