Public Official Spotlight – Rep. Craig Horn
Public Official Spotlight – Rep. Craig Horn
Representative Craig Horn recently became one of the new chairmen of the House Appropriations Subcommittee of Education and believes utilizing technology and embracing “real education reform” will help improve educational outcomes for students. For his support in wanting all children to have access to a quality education that meets them where they are, Horn is the focus of this month’s “Public Official Spotlight.”
You recently filed legislation that would provide increased technology in the classroom. What are some ways you feel technology could save the state money and better prepare students for a 21st century economy?
Today the use and growth of technology is increasing rapidly, thus helping the price of computers and tablets to come down. As a result, we will be able save money by moving away from traditional paper-bound textbooks and towards digital media in the classroom. Technology will change the way we deliver education. We will provide more interaction among students and teachers to make learning more interesting, exciting and efficient. North Carolina is one of the top states with access to broadband internet connectivity, but we need to ensure that schools have proper access to these tools. We must then allow school systems to determine what technology approach best fits the needs of their students and teachers instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
You have mentioned Winston Churchill as someone you greatly admire. What lead you to create the North Carolina’s Winston Churchill Seminars for High School Students and Teachers?
I have always respected Winston Churchill and the principles for which he stood. This is what prompted me to become involved with the Churchill Centre several years ago, an educational foundation formed in the late 1960s that focuses on the many accomplishments of Mr. Churchill. He was known for his leadership, statesmanship, courage and frankness and I believe these same values can apply to today’s students and leaders. I set up a Churchill Society in North Carolina to inspire tomorrow’s movers and shakers to solve modern day problems by utilizing some of Mr. Churchill’s leadership lessons. Churchill himself once noted, “The Empires of the Future are the Empires of the Mind.”
As one of the new chairmen to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, what do you hope to accomplish this session?
Last session, I had the opportunity to hold town meetings in schools throughout my district and talk to countless teachers, parents, students and administrators about how to improve educational outcomes in the state and our communities.
I take the responsibility of my chairmanship very seriously. The education budget accounts for roughly 60% of all state spending, therefore we need to make sure we bring all stakeholders to the table and develop strong education policies that promote success for every student.
We can start on that path by promoting real education reform. How education is funded is just one avenue. Yet we also need to look at how education is delivered so that we are better engaging our children with innovative learning tools. Together we can implement sensible education strategies that work for our students and teachers across the state and provide local school districts with the flexibility they need to be effective in their individual communities. We all know that children learn different things at different rates. Again, it is NOT “one size fits all”… it must be “my size fits me.” Education content and delivery must be based on mastery and rigor. Our children and our future depend on a quality educational experience.
