Kurt Bealer for Long Beach Unified School District 3

By Kurt C. Bealer

I believe, for at least the last three decades, our children have been "dumbed down". This I believe has been disguised by using what is called "grade inflation". Students aren't failed but are passed from one grade to the next. In fact, grades of A or B are often the norm. Whether this has been caused by planned purposeful action or just bureaucratic bumbling and fumbling doesn't matter. Change is required.

Vote April 9th.

My name is Kurt Bealer. I am a candidate for the LBUSD's board of education. I live in District Three. My education includes majors in accounting and economics. Also, I'm a military veteran. I am your candidate for change. The change is known as COMPETITION. Vote April 9th.

The reform I advocate is to contract the education function to a for-profit school. Edison Schools is such a school. One-half of all the schools in the district would be included in the contract. Edison currently educates 75,000 students in the United States. Currently, Edison is in the process of placing two bids. The first bid is to assist in the administration of the Philadelphia, PA. School System. The second bid is to operate 45 of the lowest achieving schools in the district.

Vote April 9th.

Edison's school year is 198 days (instead of the usual government school year of 180 days). Edison's school day is 8 hours (instead of the usual government 6 hour school day). For a child entering kindergarten and who graduates from an Edison high school this means the equivalent of an additional four years of classroom time. Schools open at 6:30 in the morning and close at 6:30 in the evening. Children start reading 90 minutes a day in kindergarten. Also, a second language is taught in first grade. In addition, children may master algebra, geometry, and trigonometry by the end of the 10th grade. Lastly, Edison Schools Core Values are: Wisdom, Justice, Courage, Compassion, Hope, Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity. For additional information, contact Edison Schools at http://www.edisonschools.com or (212) 419-1600.

Vote April 9th.

After Edison has established itself, say for three years, COMPETITION between Edison Schools and the government schools would begin. For example, if the elementary schools average test score is 70, any school with an average test score 7% below would require action. The school would move from the government camp to the Edison camp or vice versa. The principal and all the teachers may be fired. Teaching is not a government make work project. Teachers are employed to educate our children.

Do you really want to give children a better future? Vote for a real change in education. Vote for Kurt Bealer on April 9th. Please tell your friends and neighbors.