Public Policy
What does investing in our future really look like...
Time, not tax dollars, is the most poorly used resource in our government. By caving to reactionary politics and chasing issues that are trending on social media, our legislators often spend energy on the wrong problems, delaying meaningful progress. Too many policies focus on quick fixes or simply throwing money at a problem without addressing its root causes. Meanwhile, issues like child abuse, gaps in education, and the mental health crisis among young adults continue to grow, unchecked for decades.
My approach to policy is a little different. I believe we should focus on solutions that make a lasting impact that address root causes even if it takes time and draws political pressure. I believe it’s time to value our children as the greatest investment in our future, every policy I propose is guided by that basic principle. It’s time to tackle the issues that matter most and build a foundation for long-term success.
Education
Improving Literacy
We can look to Mississippi for inspiration in this case; their entire education system was drastically improved simply by making third graders pass a literacy test before moving on to fourth grade, as well as placing a higher emphasis on phonics and vocabulary. Children develop at different paces and there is nothing wrong with taking an extra year to build these foundational skills.
Reducing Technology Use in the Classroom
Over the last decade technology use has substantially increased in the classroom. For grade schoolers the concern is that they already spend too much time looking at a screen, when they should be learning to interact with their peers. In middle school, we should see computer literacy courses being introduced, but we don't need a computer for every class. Once a student reaches high school then it would be time to introduce personal computers or chrome books in order to prepare them for higher education.
Consolidation of Superintendents
Per Capita Kansas is ranked in the top five for the number of Superintendents we employ. Consolidating Superintendents (not school districts) is the first step in reducing administrative costs, and over time, reallocating those funds to teacher pay to incentivize increases in the field of education.
Child Advocacy
Grooming Laws
Currently all we can do in Kansas is wait for a predator to strike and hope we catch them before too much harm is done, that is unacceptable. Texas already provided us with the solution. Grooming Laws criminalize the predatory behavior of adults who are clearly grooming a child with the intent to commit sexual assault. We cannot afford to wait any longer on this, it's time to take a proactive approach to the safety of our children.
Erin's Law
Erin's Law is a body of legislation that has been passed in 39 states and was considered in the most recent legislative session in the Education Committee. It would place a free program into schools which provides age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education for students. With the amount of abuse cases involving relatives, educators, and family friends, it is essential for children to know what to do when it seems like there is no one they can trust. This legislation has already proven to be effective across the nation and would be a valuable addition to our child advocacy laws.
Sex Offender Residency Laws
Currently in Kansas there is nothing that stops a known offender from living across the street from a school, or a park, or even right next door to a day care. The concern is that these known child rapists will struggle to find housing; however, I find it odd that this seems to be an issue only in Kansas, since at least thirty other states have Sex Offender Residency Laws. This seems like a change that should have been made decades ago.
Raising the Age of Consent
Raising the age of consent from Sixteen to Eighteen is another change that seems like it should have happened long ago. The one concern with this is that we don't currently have "Romeo and Juliet" laws which would simply allow relationships between teenagers age Sixteen to Nineteen, which is fine, and would be taken into consideration in any legislation along this line.
Technology Limitations
Applying to Child Advocacy
In the modern-day child abuse often starts through a screen. The amount of personal information available through social media accounts allows predators to identify vulnerable, at-risk children. In addition, even parents who place restrictions on their children's phones and computers still face the risk of contact through in game chats, and apps like Discord, which wouldn't normally raise any concerns even if screen time was being monitored. Harmful content is everywhere on the internet and there is no way to fully restrict it or hide it away aside from limiting a child's access to personal devices. If nothing else, social media needs to be banned for children under the age of thirteen, and ideally sixteen though that can be a harder sell.
Applying to Education
Our attention spans have been completely destroyed, but what's worse is that I now see children being given access to technology as early as the age of four, we need to remember that smart phones have only existed in their modern form for about fifteen years we have no idea what the long-term effects could be. I would hope schools could at least be a place where screens are turned off and social interaction is promoted; however, it isn't uncommon to see tablets being placed into classrooms in grade schools. That is something that needs to change.
Applying to Health and Wellbeing
Movement is essential for our health, this applies to all of us, but especially to children. Proper exercise is linked to significant health benefits, yet we remain stationary due to our screens. In addition, blue light and its effects on the brain and eyes have been revealed to be damaging in the long term.
Applying to Mental Health
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of technology is its effects on mental health, from the destruction of our attention spans to the decrease of social skills it's easy to see where mental health could be negatively impacted. Social media once again plays a huge role in this, leading to high rates of cyber bullying and harassment, as well as the endless cycle of dopamine addiction which draws people back in despite these issues. In the past, the topic of pornography was also brought up in the state legislature and an attempt was made to limit it, due to its detrimental effects to mental health, as well as the number of children being exposed to it. While the legislature's solution proved to be completely ineffective in limiting pornography, it did highlight a major concern of the effects of harmful content on developing minds. Social media certainly meets this standard of harmful content; in some ways it can be even worse due to the hours spent on it and its addictive qualities.