The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country believes that some form of education, provided by public schools or other state-approved institutions, should be mandatory for all children. The primary role of the public school should be to enable students to master the basic skills as well as the physical and social sciences, to teach the fine arts, to foster critical and creative thinking, to promote good health and physical fitness, and to provide foreign languages and vocational education for those who desire them. The League believes it is possible to measure whether a quality education is being provided and whether schools are accomplishing their goals. Parents, teachers, and the community should work as a team to help children learn, encouraging higher standards of achievement. The League supports adequate financing to provide maximum educational opportunities for all children in the tax-supported schools of Houghton County. Support for each millage or bonding proposal will be evaluated by applying listed criteria. The League supports the concepts of consolidation, annexation, and cooperative programming. The League also supports creative research for methods to maintain, finance, and improve existing small schools. The League recommends that school board members receive training and that employees of a school district not serve on its board.