Tom Torlakson: Issues

Important Issues:

Health- Tom believes and knows from experience that when a student is not in tip top physical shape or is not adequately fed he is unable to learn to his maximum capacity. He taught classes on health and nutrition and knows what is necessary to have a student's body functioning well. Obesity, depression, and asthma are increasing health risks among our children and are significantly impacting our students.

Careers- Tom believes careers should be the reward of the California school system. He is fighting for reform, better teaching, safety of schools, and the health of students so they can go on to a successful career. The younger generation are the only ones who can replace the older generation so we must instill our knowledge in to them so they can start where we left off and provide new innovative ideas.

Safety- Tom is fighting to ensure safety in our neighborhood K-12 schools. "Other legislators suggest parents should be allowed to send their children to other schools in other districts, regardless of where they live. They call this choice." Tom believes that safety should be established in all neighborhood schools especially those where parental involvement and reform is necessary. Education is and must be a local, neighborhood priority.

Reform- Tom believes in higher education, and the California State University system. Our outstanding higher education systems have been a foundation for our state's economic and educational successes.California is defunding our higher education systems. We are creating an increasingly private system, one with costs that are rapidly outpacing the ability of our younger people to pay. We should work to restore the level of public funding in our higher education system. We should also take steps to protect, and enhance, CalGrants as a way to ensure the dream of a higher education remains possible for as many of our younger people as possible.

Teaching- Tom believes teaching is vital. The schools, teachers, and parents have to teach and believe in the child. He doesn't only believe in classroom teaching but many after school programs such as gang intervention and violence prevention programs; enhanced career technical education classes;restoring funding for school nurses; and organizing access to health care plans such as MediCal and Healthy Families. The parents play just as big a role as the schools. Teaching at home is key. Teaching character to children at a young age helps the student prevail in the long run.