The Green Party is constantly reviewing our policy platforms as new information becomes available so that we can use the latest information in making an educated decision on the best way to govern.

Our Party’s approach to education recognizes that there are two major dimensions to the issue: Both the home environment and the public education system itself. Accordingly, in this section we propose measures that will help improve the ability of families to thrive and create a positive home environment. In the next section, we take up the issue of public education per se – which in Illinois, at least, is inseparable from the issue of taxation and our budget crisis.

Nowhere do we see more interconnections among the serious public concerns than in addressing the issue of education and families. We cannot achieve success in education without addressing all the needs of our people and environment, and without re-examining our national and local priorities, including the way our government funds are spent. While government officials proclaim we do not have adequate funds for education, at the same time they squander most of our tax money on the military and on subsidies for “corporate welfare.” Shifting these resources to education, health and basic social services is an enormous priority. We have the money, and need to use it for our people and environment, not to fuel military and corporate aggression for the benefit of an elite few, which is the hallmark of our present political and social regime.

Education begins at home. There is no question that the care given to children when they are infants, and even prenatally, has a tremendous and critical impact on their future ability to learn and become full, productive members of society and responsible citizens. The issue of education thus cannot be separated from the issue of quality, living-wage jobs, access to health-care, decent housing and the other basic requisites of a healthy home environment. In addition, education needs to start at the top as well as the bottom: As a society, we need to make parental education – teaching prospective parents how to be good and responsible parents – a priority, just as much as we need to make quality pre-kindergarten programs accessible to parents throughout our State.

We need to recognize that parenting is real work (as are the other invisible labors of the home) and support it in a real way. In some European countries, there is mandatory paid parental leave for parents of children up to the age of three. We would do well to emulate that example.

We need support for child rearing done in the home, and professional quality day-care for families where all the adults work outside of the home.
In keeping with our support for the family, and the rights of youth, we support:

1. Paid emergency leave for workers to care for sick children or parents/elders.
2. Full benefits to domestic partners, regardless of sexual orientation.
3. Flexible hours and/or job-sharing in the workplace, to further support families.
4. Full social security and pension benefits for spouses and domestic partners of workers.
5. Support for meaningful gathering places, programs, and work/study opportunities for youth. Respect for the wisdom of our young people, giving them opportunities to be heard.
6. More effective intervention to break the cycle of domestic violence. Greater societal support for social workers so that they aren’t given impossible case loads and can provide meaningful intervention and assistance to families struggling with poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and other conflicts.
7. Decent wages for part-time and summer jobs for youth.