OPINION:
In 1894, Frederick Douglass spoke of the blessings of an education. He said: “Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free.”
Growing up on the dilapidated streets of Detroit, it became immediately apparent that I had many obstacles in my path and education was the light that would free me. My mother always told me that with a good education, I could go anywhere in the world and be anything. Her discipline and love, coupled with guidance from my teachers, provided me with the tools for success that I so desperately needed.
Today, American students face immense challenges and impediments in their path to success. The U.S. Department of Education continues to increase its control over our education system and the leadership of this bureaucratic behemoth is dismal at best. For young people, obtaining a college degree is becoming harder and harder in the midst of skyrocketing costs.
In a 2012 study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States ranked 27th out of 34 countries in mathematics. This is unacceptable for “the Land of Opportunity.” It should be the highest priority of American lawmakers to remove educational obstacles and empower students of all ages and backgrounds.
My education plan is rooted in five key principles that will place the tools of education back into the hands of “We the People” — the students, parents and local educators.
First, I will prioritize school choice. The United States cannot remain competitive in the world if we do not have an education system that meets the needs of American students from all walks of life. As president, I will actively support school choice programs, such as school vouchers and charter schools, so every student has the opportunity to fully realize his or her God-given potential.
The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program is just one example of a successful school choice program. The program centers on providing scholarships to students in Washington, D.C.’s low-income neighborhoods. The program has achieved remarkable success and some have described it as lifeline out of poverty for participating students.
Secondly, I will place the power back into the hands of parents, teachers and local school districts — not Washington. The current spending rate per student in America is among the highest in the world, but we have failed to produce measurable improvements in student proficiency. The achievement gap between white and minority students remains a national embarrassment. The 2015 Math and Reading National Assessment of Educational Progress scores showed a continuation of such a gap even after the implementation of Common Core Standards in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
As president, I will work to directly support students, cut red tape and reduce the size and authority of the Washington educational bureaucracy.
Third, I will encourage American educators to continue to innovate and empower their students in resourceful ways. If the United States is to remain competitive in the global educational arena, we must encourage novelty, creativity and passion within our education system. We cannot let the federal government continue to micromanage and suppress innovative educational efforts with further one-size-fits all regulations. As president, I pledge not to suppress the ingenuity of the bedrock of America — our educators.
Fourth, I will reward excellence among teachers. These individuals hold the keys to our children’s future. It is long overdue to provide America’s exceptional teachers with the respect and resources they deserve. Our current outdated system rewards teacher tenure over performance. As president, I will advocate for flexible block grants for states to measure and identify excellent teachers and reward them accordingly.
My fifth and final principle for reinvigorating our education system will be to streamline and simplify the student loan process. The U.S. government needs to remove itself from the lending business. The financial aid process is not transparent, and as a result families and students have amassed over $1 trillion in student loan debt, with the average college graduate accumulating more than $35,000. As president, I will use market-oriented solutions to reduce tuition costs and alleviate student loan debt. Instead of burdening these promising young people with onerous debt loads, I will develop an approach that reflects the American values of free-market competition and consumer choice.
My wife Candy and I began the Carson Scholars Fund because we are truly passionate about the education of future generations. We owe it to our children — and to ourselves — to restore our education system to global preeminence. I believe my, market-based approach will enable us to do just that.
• Ben S. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, is a Republican presidential candidate.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.