39th Amendment: Educational Reform

Problem

Public education is not addressed in the Constitution and is continually attacked and undermined by a variety of parties for various reasons. Public educational quality, funding, overuse of standardized written tests, and lack of democracy has led to poor educational standards throughout the country. Over 12 million children suffer from malnutrition in part to lack of funding for food at public schools. Furthermore, millions of students suffer from debilitating student loans, and the law does not permit them to file for bankruptcy relief. This massive debt burden amounts to over $1.6 trillion, which prevents millions of Americans from owning a home, accumulating savings, paying off other debt, and being able to afford families.

Solution

The 39th Amendment establishes the right of all residents to free education up to the first three years of college, establishes levels of education, purposes and goals of education, funding, public libraries, a standard university degree program, limits the use of written standardized tests, requires universities to act democratically, and forgives all outstanding and pending student loans.

The Text of the 39th Amendment

Section 1. Universal Education

Every resident shall have the right to free (publicly-funded), quality education from early childhood through the Standard University Education degree (Sections 2 and 5).

Section 2. Educational Levels

The general progressive structure of public education shall be the following:

1. Primary Education
   1. Early Childhood Education (ages 0-6)
   2. Middle Childhood Education (ages 5-12)
   3. Late Childhood Education (ages 11-16)
2. Secondary Education
   1. Standard University Education (3 years of full-time study) (“SUE degree”)
   2. Advanced University Education (Standard University Education plus 2-3 years of full-time study) (“AUE” degree)
   3. Doctoral University Education (Advanced University Education plus 2-6 years of full-time study) “DUE” degree)

Section 2. The Purpose and Goals of Education

The purpose and goals of education shall be comprised of the following:

1. Universal Access to Quality Education: Public education shall ensure that every child, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or disability, has equal access to high-quality education. This includes providing the necessary resources, facilities, and opportunities to support the academic and personal growth of every student.
2. Development of Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Public education shall aim to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in students. It shall provide a comprehensive curriculum that encourages intellectual curiosity, analytical reasoning, and the ability to engage with complex issues.
3. Promotion of Civic Engagement and Responsibility: Public education shall prepare students to be informed, engaged, ethical, and responsible citizens. It shall emphasize the importance of understanding democratic principles; participating in civic processes; respecting variety and diversity in persons, cultures, and ideas; preserving the biosphere; reducing suffering; and contributing positively to their communities and the broader society.
4. Support for Lifelong Learning and Adaptability: Public education shall instill a love for lifelong learning and the capacity to adapt to and survive changing circumstances. It shall provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue continued education and to thrive in a dynamic, evolving, globalized and interconnected world.
5. Social and Emotional Development: Public education shall foster the social and emotional development of students, equipping them with the abilities and competencies needed to both express and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, care for those in need, and live ethical lives.
6. Preparation for Society and Social Contributions: Public education shall prepare students for successful careers and/or meaningful contributions to society and its well-being.

Section 3. Educational Resources and Funding

The government shall ensure adequate resources to ensure the purposes and goals in Section 2 are fulfilled. Students are entitled to at least one free nutritious meal per school day. Furthermore, to prevent significant disparities in funding between affluent and economically-disadvantaged communities, schools shall not be funded by local property taxes.

Section 4. Public Libraries

State governments shall establish and fund at least three public libraries per state. The contents of public libraries shall be democratically determined by a joint committee comprised of (a) the faculty of local public universities and (b) senior library staff.

Section 5. Standard University Education

The government shall fully fund a quality three (3) year Standard University Education degree program (including lodging) available for all residents that includes a variety of essential courses in (a) the humanities (at minimum: speech/rhetoric, composition/writing, art and architecture, language/linguistics, logic, ethics, literature, music), (b) social sciences (at minimum: sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, history, religion), (c) natural sciences (at minimum: applied math and statistics, physical science, life science, environmental or ecological science), and (d) contemporary skills training oriented around student abilities and proclivities (such as plant and animal care, culinary arts, contemporary finance, physical fitness and survival, programming, therapeutic and social care, swimming, etc.). This degree and its courses shall be universally transferrable across public and private institutions of higher learning, and shall not be eligible for test opt-outs. The degree curriculum and delivery methods may be adjusted for atypical or special-needs students.

Section 6. Limited Use of Standardized Tests

Written standardized tests shall not be used as either the primary or sole determining factor for general educational competency or eligibility in university education.

Section 7. Educational Democracy

Decisions about educational processes, programs, and curriculum shall be determined democratically by each institution or governing body of institutions, whether public or private. Board members of an educational institution shall be elected by the faculty and staff, and may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of either (a) the faculty and staff or (b) the Board. Faculty may be removed or suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of (a) the Board, of (b) the faculty and staff. All educational bodies, governing boards, administrative councils, staff assemblies, student assemblies, or other deliberative or decision-making bodies shall operate democratically according to the American Institute for Parliamentarians Standard Code (AIPSC2).

Section 8. Implementation Schedule and Student Loan Forgiveness

All current outstanding and pending student loans shall be immediately forgiven upon approval of this Amendment. The rest of this Amendment comes into effect within two (2) years of approval.