Candidate Bob Heaton Seeks to Provide After-School Opportunities to Students

According The Brazil Times, Bob Heaton toured Brazil’s YMCA to learn about the activities available for children after school.  Heaton is passionately campaigning for after-school programs in order to protect kids as well as offer them opportunities.

 "I've had many front-porch conversations the past few months across the district, and after-school programs are a real concern for many families," Bob Heaton, Cory, Republican candidate for House Dist. 46 State Representative, told The Brazil Times during a tour of the Clay County YMCA, 225 East Kruzan St. "Many parents, who have to work, are struggling with what to do with their children once the school day ends."

"Many children go home alone, where the 12- or 13-year-old is responsible for caring for their younger siblings," Heaton said. "We need to reach out to these families and provide enrichment programs that allow these children safe environments and educational advancement opportunities."

Representative Ruppel Backs an Earlier Start Date for School

WNDU.com compares the educational differences between Northern Indiana and Michigan.  While Indiana students go back to school in mid-August, students in Michigan are mandated to wait until after Labor Day.  Bills from the Indiana Legislature have been proposed, but all have been ignored.  However, Representative Bill Ruppel asserts that he will re-file his bill in 2009.  As several testimonies in the article mention, kids will have more family time and outdoor time during the warm weather.

Republicans support Indiana's teachers

House Republicans have long supported a simple concept: Good teachers should be paid more. With our children’s future in their hands, we believe that we should pay teachers enough to attract the best people. We should also reward the best teachers. We can do this by increasing pay for teachers that test well in their area of expertise. We should also reward teachers whose students perform well.

This common sense policy is supported heavily by Indiana voters.

The Democrats, however, are held hostage by the Indianapolis lobbyists for the teachers union. They oppose merit-based pay increases like many unions. So again, the common sense policies that Hoosiers support are being rejected by the Democrats in favor of the special interests.