Rob Hillman (left), State Chairman of the Missouri Republican Liberty Caucus and Chuck MacNab of K & N Patriots (right) enjoyed a day visited me at the Capitol

Race to the Top

If you liked "No Child Left Behind", you're really going to like this one. Do you remember a few years ago when some thought "No Child Left Behind" was a great idea? I can't seem to find any of those people now.

The official title of this newest proposal is called "Race to the Top", but we might better call it, "Race to the Handcuffs" because it is all about turning over our public schools to federal control. Perhaps a more accurate name would be "Race to Bureaucratic Control." This is a proposal with a lot of strings attached and a possibility to pick up additional taxpayer dollars from the federal government to thank us for forfeiting our local decision-making authority.

The first problem stems from the insatiable appetite the federal government has for controlling every element of our lives. There really is no reason for congress or the executive branch to be meddling in how we educate our children or how we administrate healthcare. The root is the same. If Washington did not dictate to the states on either, we would be better off left to our own discretion. We are trading away our freedom on how to manage our own schools for a set of federal standards that will be defined by those in Washington, not those closest to the students like the parents and the teachers. We are proverbially selling our birthright for a bowl of porridge. If you don't remember the story of Jacob and Esau, how about the story of The Pied Piper?

"Race to the Top" (RTTT) is a federal grant that allows states to get additional taxpayer dollars, but the process of getting those dollars requires us to place our state into a type of slavery to the federal government.

Here are some of the problems:

1.) There is nothing "Race to the Top" can give us that we cannot already give ourselves. If we want school reform, we can simply vote for the reforms the voters want, not what is mandated from on high.

2.) It will cost us $389 million to implement the mandates, yet we may only get $250 million back. While that may seem like a lot of money, when you fritter it out to all the school districts, it comes out to a drop in the bucket. Other states that were denied the first round of money agree that they may have dodged a bullet: Minnesota's take on RTTT

3.) The Missouri State Education Board voted to allow the commissioner and the president of the board to apply for the grant before the terms were established. After our state is locked into "the deal", the terms could change when it is too late to cancel. Michigan hesitates on RTTT

4.) This is all being handled on the bureaucratic level. This program is designed so that the power to make all of these decisions is concentrated where there no legislative oversight or accountability to the General Assembly. Contacting your legislators won't help, and I will never have the opportunity to vote on this proposal.

5.) "Race to the Top" is far from over. Missouri is applying for the next round of funding. Since the federal government can print an unlimited supply of money, and since money is the hook, there will be plenty of additional opportunities to push until all the states are under the thumb of the federal government. Here is an article that explains why some states don't want anything to do with this: Other States nervous about RTTT

The idea that we are incapable of properly educating our own children without the federal government forcing us to do the right thing is positively insulting. I believe there are plenty of great professional educators who can lead the way without the necessity of a federal iron fist. All it takes is for the elected officials to listen to their constituents while applying common sense and reasonable discernment.

You may wonder with all these negatives why our state would be among those who are wasting our time and money to get into this program. I wonder too, but to offer balance, here is an explanation from another legislator who thinks "Race to the Top" is a good deal for Missouri and was chiding the Education Commissioner, Chris Nicastro, for not jumping into the application program back in November 2009 when he said:

"Chris Nicastro unconvincingly cited time constraints, a lack of funding to pay for the proposal, and the hefty resources needed to write a strong application, including more than 680 hours to prepare the application, as reasons for the delay in vying for the first round of funding - reasons that did not sit well with me. a decision not to pursue the Race to the Top funding during the first round of funding - for any reason - is unacceptable to me."

You can link here to read more of Senator Rupp's View on Race To The Top. And by linking to this video, you can view the interchange between Nicastro and the Senator.

Having served in both local and state government for about 16 years, I can say that I am amazed at how many elected officials appear to be naive and easily misled. Education, healthcare, welfare and family issues should not be with in the jurisdiction of the federal government. Yet, some believe the only way they can change the country is from the top down. You can be confident that I will use the full strength of my position to fight against any additional federal encroachment. I still believe in public input. Our government is still supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people. Until we take the money, we still can remove ourselves from the list. Now is the time to speak up. If you want to have some input on this program, you can contact: Missouri Educational Commissioner - Chris Nicastro.

It all comes down to one's philosophy of the role of government. Pope Pius XI declared in 1931, "Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. For every social activity ought in its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social and never destroy and absorb them."

Must we lose our sovereignty, liberty and autonomy in order to beg at the federal feeding trough? There is an old expression, "if you want to get out of the rat race, you have to let go of the cheese."

Your thoughts are important to me, so please let me know what you think about Missouri's participation in "Race to the Top"? You can send me your opinion by clicking here: Cynthia Davis

Bill of Rights Essay Contest

"Freedom and Civic Virtues"

The Federal Foundation for Women Legislators and the Federal Rifle Association are co-sponsoring their thirteenth annual Bill of Rights Essay Contest for college-bound female high school juniors and seniors, titled Freedom and Civic Virtues. The contest's seven winners will each receive a $3,000 college scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to NFWL's Annual Conference November 18-22, 2010 where they will network with, be mentored by and speak to hundreds of women lawmakers from across the United States. (Location to be announced at a later date.)

Entries must be received or postmarked no later than July 30, 2010, after which an NFWL selection committee will judge each essay and determine the seven winners. The judges will primarily weigh the factors of storytelling, understanding of the Bill of Rights, and original insight.

The Federal Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) enables women lawmakers to be more effective leaders. NFWL provides women Members of Congress, state legislators, county commissioners, and city council members with strategic resources, including debates and briefings on the issues, leadership skill development, and opportunities for networking.

Potential applicants may direct questions to the office of Representative Cynthia Davis: 573-751-9768 or to the NFWL office: scholarships@womenlegislators.org.

202-293-3040 ext. 1005. For additional information or link here to learn more about the Federal Foundation For Women Legislators: NFWL .

A Little Bit of Humor . . .

After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right."

You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning.
And I\'m supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their t-shirt messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.
I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others, and oh, make sure that I give the girls in my class fifty percent of my attention.
My contract requires me to work on my own time after school, evenings and weekends grading papers.
Also, I must spend my summer vacation, at my own expense, working toward advance certification and a Masters degree.
And on my own time you want me to attend committee and faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in staff development training.
I am to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority.
You want me to incorporate technology into the learning experience, monitor web sites, and relate personally with each student. That includes deciding who might be potentially dangerous and/or liable to commit a crime in school.
I am to make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams, even those who don\'t come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments.
Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap.
And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!

You want me to do all of this and yet you expect me... NOT TO PRAY!!

This Capitol Report is a weekly column by Representative Cynthia Davis, from the 19^th District, covering events in the Missouri Legislature and district-wide issues.

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