WV Farm Bureau Magazine January 2016 | Page 16

other youth activities, and as an adult education facility. Cedar Lakes should be maintained and facilities improved with additional private housing. We encourage the West Virginia Department of Education to put more emphasis on improving and using Cedar Lakes. Farm Bureau is willing to work with other organizations to help secure adequate state funding for Cedar Lakes Conference Center. We request that WV citizens receiving a state tax refund be given the option to dedicate it or a portion thereof to a designated fund meant for capital improvements and maintenance of Cedar Lakes Conference Center. 46. FINANCIAL EDUCATION West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that a financial planning course be implemented in the secondary school system. 47. ABSTINENCE EDUCATION West Virginia Farm Bureau supports programs providing education and support to children in various subjects such as good hygiene, self-esteem, controlled substance awareness, and abstinence, through school classes and community events. 48. BASIC EDUCATION West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends a thorough and efficient education, stressing competence in reading comprehension, writing, science, technology, math and agricultural science be provided for students of our state. To achieve this goal, we support: • • • Adequate facilities, instructional equipment and supplies Appropriate academic preparation of teachers who are periodically evaluated and tested Properly trained and qualified persons should be permitted to volunteer to assist paid personnel in sponsoring extracurricular activities and safety training programs 49. WEST VIRGINIA STUDIES REQUIREMENT West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the teaching of West Virginia studies, which is currently required for elementary school students and eighth graders. 16 West Virginia Farm Bureau News Farm Bureau recommends that the study of West Virginia be carried through in grades five, six and seven by incorporating specific objectives addressing the state’s relationship with the content of the social studies curriculum for each of these grade levels. Farm Bureau also suggests that textbooks and materials used by students and teachers for the study of West Virginia be kept up-to-date. 50. SCHOOL FUNDING The State of West Virginia currently allocates over $1 billion annually for education, including higher education. Additionally, approximately 70% of the counties’ property taxes comprise the local share for county school boards. School financing needs to be shared by all the citizens of the state, not just property owners, therefore, West Virginia Farm Bureau encourages the legislature to develop a school financing plan that would be equitable to property and nonproperty owners. In addition, we urge funding be continued to rural county budgets to offset high costs of rural transportation. We also recommend funding be added for building maintenance. 51. CONTROL OVER COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS West Virginia is a diverse state and our county school systems reflect that diversity with different strengths and needs. West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that county school boards have greater control over the curriculum and autonomy over the administration of the county school systems. We further recommend the county school boards respect the desires of and maintain communications with the residents regarding school issues. Farm Bureau objects to the forced consolidation of grade schools in West Virginia. 52. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND PRAYER IN SCHOOL West Virginia Farm Bureau supports returning prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, with the words “under God” retained, to the school system.