The American experience has shown repeatedly the ability of the individual to achieve greatly when allowed to do so – when not held back by the government. Never before has the opportunity for success been more pronounced than it is now with a Republican Administration and our many Republican elected officials. Mississippi is poised to serve as a springboard for our people to change the world; our state is blessed with talent, technology, and tools for growth.

We know that education, economic growth, and quality of life are tied directly to one another. As the marketplace becomes increasingly technology-driven, an educated and well-trained work force is essential to continued economic opportunity. And we know Mississippians will not enjoy future successes if our commitment to superior education is not reflected in our public policy.

Mississippi Republicans stand behind the principle that resources in education should be focused on the classroom, not the boardroom. Our state's children need strong teachers, texts, and training, not more plans, programs, and pavement. We believe that classroom instruction – and instructors – should receive priority funding when education dollars are being spent.

We must recruit, retain, and train qualified teachers. We believe that qualified experts in subject areas that are taught in our schools should be allowed to teach even if they are not holders of a state-sanctioned certificate. Local principals are far more qualified to determine when an engineer, physicist, musician or mathematician is capable of teaching students than is the state bureaucracy. How better could we unleash the talent of our state's experts in myriad fields than to allow them to pass that talent along to our next generation, rather than barring them from teaching because they haven't received a degree in education?

Making sure teachers are free to teach is an important aspect of recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. Disciplinary standards should be enforced so that students involved in drugs and violence are not allowed to disrupt classrooms. School boards and administrators should support and defend teachers who take appropriate disciplinary action.

Mississippi Republicans have long endorsed and we continue to support voluntary, student-led prayer in our public schools.

Our schools must reinforce parental authority and should make every effort to involve parents in the education of their children. At a minimum, parental involvement in education should extend to allowing parents to choose the school that best meets the educational needs of their children. Additionally, our public policy should not unduly burden those parents who choose to educate their children at home. Nor should we discourage those parents, teachers, and communities intent on "breaking the mold" and trying creative ideas in the setting of charter schools.

Finally, we strongly support the extraordinary network that comprises our state's system of higher education, and call on our public officials to enhance that system by bold, aggressive means.