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VOTER SURVEY
Conducted by the Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign for
2008 Pennsylvania Primary Election Legislative Candidates
| Name: |
John Farley |
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Candidate for: |
Pennsylvania Senate |
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| Party: |
Republican |
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District: |
5 (Philadelphia County) |
1. Do you agree that the General Assembly should recognize that every child in Pennsylvania has a fundamental right to a quality public education consistent with the K-12 academic standards enacted by the State Board of Education?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
The children of Pennsylvania are our best hope and our most precious resource. Every single child in Pennsylvania has a right to the finest education possible. Each county in Pennsylvania has the right to demand that Harrisburg properly educate every child. This is my top priority.
2. Do you agree that the General Assembly has the duty to provide for a statewide K-12 funding system that assures adequate educational resources are available to support a quality public education for every child in every district consistent with the K-12 academic standards enacted by the State Board of Education?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
No question about it. The Pennsylvania State Assembly is underfunding its school districts throughout the state by the tune of FIVE BILLION DOLLARS!! (One BILLION DOLLARS in Philadelphia County alone!!) The state used to fund most districts by a (60% to/40%) ratio in 1986. That rate is now (35%) for the state, to (65%) for local governments! That is not nearly enough.
3. Do you agree that the Pennsylvania Legislature must significantly increase state funding to provide for a fair share of statewide K-12 educational expenses to be paid with state funds?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
Pennsylvania is underfunding our schools by 5 billion dollars! We have money to waste on bringing soccer to Chester! We the taxpayers are told to fork over money for casinos, stadiums, and illegal pay raises. The State Senate and State House need to fund children, first!!
4. Do you agree that the Pennsylvania Legislature should continue to significantly increase state funding to increase access for young children in Pennsylvania to high-quality pre-K programs?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
Yes. Money spent on early childhood education saves money spent on later years for incarceration and overcrowded prisons. Students throughout our state need to know that from Pre-K through 12th grade they have enough support from their elected officials to make public education the very best in the United States.
5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Pennsylvania's system of funding public education? What should the Pennsylvania Legislature do, if anything, to improve the system of funding public education?
Comments (75 words or less)
Pennsylvania poorly funds its schools. I can think of no strengths in the way the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funds its public education. Pennsylvania needs to stop wasting money, tighten its financial belt, and needs a new commitment to properly fund public education. My children attend public schools in Philadelphia. Teachers are constantly reaching into their own pockets to pay for supplies in the classroom. Notes come home from “frazzled” educators asking parents for money and supplies to fund their classrooms. This is totally unacceptable!!
6. What is your vision of the public education opportunity that the General Assembly should ensure be available to every child in Pennsylvania and what will you do to accomplish that goal?
Comments (75 words or less)
We need a “War on Education”!! John Kennedy chose to go to the moon in 10 years. We should vow to send every high school student in Pennsylvania to college or a trade school by the year, (2020)! Only (18%) of all Philadelphia have received a college degree. This is unacceptable. We need (2) new state colleges, (one in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia), that has free tuition for all Pennsylvania residents. Colleges need to be utilized and affordable for all Pennsylvania residents of all ages.
7. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system?
Comments (75 words or less)
We need new schools that are economically affordable and good for our environment. Pennsylvania should stop pouring money into “retro-fitting” old schools. We need cheaper schools, in modern environments to prepare our children for the 22nd century. Schools should be based on a “green” model. No paper or pencils. Only schools with proper computers, laptops, and note pads will properly prepare our kids for the future. (See the example of the Gateway Charter School, in Philadelphia).
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