At last, education debated
I was just about ready to pass out in front of the television last night when the final question of the final presidential debate perked me up. At last, a question about education. It's been discouraging the last several months how little the topic -- which Sen. McCain last night called the civil rights issue of our time -- has played a part in the campaign.
I was baffled by McCain's response about No Child Left Behind, that the law needs more "transparency" and "accountability," but not necessarily more money thrown at it. This may be true of many things in government, and many things in education as well. But in the case of NCLB, aren't we already making everything transparent -- embarrassing low-performing schools by making their scores available for all to see? Don't we already have accountability -- holding schools to ever-higher standards and sanctioning those who don't meet state-established benchmarks for two years or more? Isn't a big part of the problem that the federal government has placed these increased demands on schools without providing the extra resources to meet them?
Sen. Obama compared NCLB with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, the 1975 federal law that requires schools to provide disabled students with a "free and appropriate public education" but has never been fully funded. But much of the back-and-forth centered around vouchers. (Does Michelle Rhee support them, or only charter schools? McCain said she does. Does not, replied Obama. Does, too, replied McCain. I'm sure the D.C. schools chancellor was thrilled to have her position debated on national television. The Washington Post and a Post blogger say today she supports both, vouchers and charters.)
Given the current economic climate, an infusion of cash for education seems unlikely regardless of who wins the White House. In Maryland and many other states, cuts are on the way. But let's be real about what the needs are.
UPDATE: The Web site Fast Company talked to Rhee today about what was said about her. She said she hasn't issued a formal position on vouchers, but her office issued a statement saying vouchers aren't the solution to fixing the D.C. school system.
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
I like how McCain said that we can't just throw money at the problem. Some of the highest spending school districts are the lowest performing. Then he sings the praises of vouchers and uses DC as his poster child to demonstrate their value.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but DC spends somewhere between 13K-14K per student, close to if not the highest in the nation. Yet they're also one of the lowest performing districts in the nation. Vouchers are no doubt a good thing for those families who receive them, but they're a short term solution that only helps so many, and that money could be spent on making neighborhood schools better so that vouchers aren't necessary in the first place.
Talking about vouchers and only vouchers was a crime because it doesn't address the larger more pressing issues in education. McCain sounded very ignorant on the subject in my opinion.
The emphasis on helping students with autism felt like a pre-planned talking point that he was going to force in there regardless of the circumstance because it's an inarguable positive for Palin. OK, so vouchers and helping kids with autism (which requires more funding, which will be difficult under a uniform spending freeze) closes the achievement gap? I don't think so.
Good job Sara pointing out his ridiculous stance on NCLB. He either has no idea what he's talking about or is willing to twist reality so that it fits his campaign theme.
Posted by: Corey | October 17, 2008 10:21 AM
Re: autism
Doesn't Palin's son have Down's?
Posted by: Steph | October 17, 2008 3:17 PM
I think there are two takes on why Palin's supposedly understands autism:
1. Because she has a child with special needs and Down's vs. autism isn't that different
2. Because she has an autistic nephew.
I don't buy either one. She's supposed to be such an advocate for the disabled in the White House? As govenor in Alaska the one special education project that she got funded was a boot-camp for kids with behavioral problems. Nothing about inclusion, therapy, supports - things that matter to me as a mom of an autistic child.
Also, having an infant with special needs gives you no experience with the education system. She doesn't speak for me.
Personally, I'm disgusted by the use of Trig at Palin's rallies. It's like he's a symbol as opposed to an actual living human being.
Posted by: a parent | October 17, 2008 4:33 PM
To "a parent" -- I can hear it now...if Trig were NOT at the rallies, you'd be harping that the Palins were embarrassed by him.
Posted by: SouthernGal2 | October 19, 2008 7:38 PM
Never believed something like that could happen
I have to read more if its not just junk
Posted by: Melania Fein | December 15, 2011 5:13 PM