The primary duty of a democracy is to educate its children so that they have the tools and resources to make the decisions that will shape the future. To underfund education is not simply a misuse of resources; it puts the future in grave jeopardy. The Montana Green Party strongly believes that education and the cultural infrastructure of public broadcasting, libraries, museums, performing arts centers as well as public schools and universities is the strongest bulwark against crime, poverty and oppression. Education and cultural expression is an investment in our people, our communities, and our shared future.
We believe that educational services and institutions of all kinds need to be fully and fairly funded. Students must have access to the books and materials needed for a world-class education. We must pay educators a wage appropriate to the invaluable service they provide. We believe that small classes and neighborhood schools with site-based management and parental involvement is the surest way to ensure that future generations are given the foundation they need and deserve. We believe that students and families need to have choice in their education. The Montana Green Party supports open enrollment for public schools. We support more flexible scheduling for single parents so that they can complete their education because without education, they and their children are denied opportunities. We favor programs emphasizing education for citizenship and cultural literacy as well as college track, honors and vocational education. All of these should be available to interested students regardless of where they live. Our schools should be a haven for children. They should be places where people are free to grow and to learn. Violence has no place in our schools. Schools should be free of corporate involvement or advertisements. Our children are students, not consumers or a "market" for corporate exploitation.