[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Hitting some Nerves on Education

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Hitting some Nerves on Education
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1220590375.shtml


   I noticed earlier in this week's GOP convention speeches that a
   seemingly modest reference to education reform drew unexpectedly loud
   applause. I'll bet that Senator Obama did, too, when he said:

     "I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of
     new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more
     support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more
     accountability."

   We can immediately dismiss that last statement given the teachers'
   unions presence and influence in Democratic Party. I'm sure the crowd
   reaction to the first part shook those Styrofoam columns, though.
   Senator McCain also got a big reaction when he said:

     "Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access
     to public education has been gained. But what is the value of
     access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school
     bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove
     barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good
     teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work."

   It's the classic kitchen table issue, something we all know about
   firsthand as students, and again as parents and taxpayers.
   Both men seem to be promising still more Federal involvement in local
   public schools. Given the results to date, can we not all agree this
   would be a mistake? Didn't President Reagan ultimately have it right
   when he proposed ending this?
   I suppose McCain's answer might be to withhold Title I and other
   subsidies if a school doesn't measure up. There is no reason to
   believe language that tough could get through the Senate, even the
   House. President George W. Bush tried this and got very little after
   Senator Kennedy gutted it, remember? Besides, such thresholds are
   almost impossible to define, especially a one size fits all national
   set of standards.
   Whoever wins, this is one campaign promise I hope isn't kept.