Education Challenges for A New President
President Barack Obama
Now that the pomp and circumstance, majesty and multitudes of the inauguration of our 44th President is in the history books, President Obama has “hit the ground running”.
He’s commanded a timeline for troop withdrawals from Iraq, mandated the closing of Guantanemo Bay within one year, and gathered his advisors to work on the economic catastrophes that seem to get worse each day. It remains to be seen just how quickly (more…)
Education Takes Back-Seat In Election
2008 Presidential Candidates Vague on Education Plans
While I’ve been battling computer problems and a Total System Restore, the Presidential candidates have been plowing-on with their respective campaigns.
It is true Barack Obama has garnered the support of the National Education Association, and John McCain has been proposing vouchers and charter schools, but neither candidate has spelled-out a definitive plan on how they will accomplish any education objectives.
The NEA loves Obama because he proposes more and better teachers, combined with reform to No Child Left Behind (NCLB). No surprise there – Every citizen in the USA wants better teachers and NCLB reform (even the Republicans).
Don’t you want to know HOW he’s gonna do it?
John McCain is proposing vouchers and charter schools. Even most Republicans admit that vouchers are elitist, expensive and won’t work except for a few, so they are not the answer. And while charter schools may be part of the solution, don’t you want to know how McCain would prevent charter schools from becoming private enterprises, promoting special interests at public expense (as has already happened numerous times)?
No matter WHO your chosen candidate is, if you are concerned about the future of the USA – both economically and educationally – you need to INSIST your candidate spell-out a real plan.
Let’s get education off the back burner, and back in front of the public eye, where it belongs!
Brennan
