LEONARD JAMES MARTIN

ANALYSIS:

Leonard James Martin is a Democrat running for the position of California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was born on August 10, 1963 and is now a retired worker. Before running for this position, Martin was a prop maker working for Motion Picture Industry. He has had much experience as a stagehand for the company as well as working as a General Contractor and Carpenter throughout his work history. In regards to his education, Leonard James Martin graduated in 1981 from Saugus High school and from the College of the Canyons community college afterwards. Once in the position of Public Instruction, Martin aims for a reformed education system that would benefit the students in terms of what they learn and the environment of the schools they learn in. Going into government serves as an ideal transitioning from his work experience in order for him to successfully implement his goals for education.

POSITION AND PLATFORM:

As a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Martin plans on targeting more funding towards public schools throughout California. With so many budget cuts and many teachers being laid off, Martin sees how much these schools are in need of reform in order to provide for the students. Especially in poor and minority filled areas are these budget cuts and lack of funding and support occurring. In order to target and remedy this downfall in education, Martin wants to establish in equal rate of funding of all schools around the state instead of basing it solely on property tax. It is unfair that the wealthy are offered more opportunities at a good education while the poor must struggle with maintaining their schools and their education system. Instead of spending more money on building and rebuilding state prisons, that money should also be redirected towards further funding schools to ensure better quality of education. In regards to the health and safety of schools all across the state, Martin also hopes to require all K-12 schools to take action towards becoming a cleaner school for both students and staff to benefit from. All classrooms and bathrooms should be as clean as possible in order to prevent any sicknesses. Students not only should be ensured a clean campus but a healthy diet as well. Martin also strongly opposes No Child Left Behind. With so much emphasis on testing and getting high test scores, it forces students and faculty to do whatever they can to meet those requirements. Oftentimes, students who are unable to understand the necessary material to pass standardized tests are forced to copy and cheat just to pass. This is lowering the standards of the students and education rather than heightening it. Schools are turning into testing sites rather than continuing to be places of critical thinking and environments of learning. Students should be supported in pursuing bilingual studies so that they can be more prepared to become global citizens and more able to take part in world affairs. Martin lastly is in favor of yearly conferences to check up on the status of schools. This would ensure that students and schools stay on track and that any problematic issues that are arising can be targeted and solved efficiently.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:

The professors at Cal Poly Pomona, particularly Ralph E. Shaffer, support and endorse Leonard James Martinfor Public Instruction, including many teachers a part of United Teacher LA. Aside from appealing to the Democratic Party, Martin receives a lot of endorsement from other parties as well, such as the Peace and Freedom Party and the Socialist Party of America as well, represented by Stewart Alexander. Programs that support Martin include Carol Long who is Director of Carlotta’s Housing & Mentoring ServiceLearning Together. Overall, many teachers and people who look for a stronger educational system in California support and trust Martin’s goals and endeavors for reform. Conservative Republicans would most likely oppose Martin’s views of getting rid of No Child Left Behind in California as well.