Grading The Candidates
As the presidential race becomes increasingly negative and despicable on certain fronts, we voters need to break down some of the real issues as they affect Long Beach. In this Report Card my goal is to objectively answer three questions: 1) Are there elements of the candidates’ records that foreshadow how they will enact educational policy? 2) If elected, how will the respective candidates change the controversial No Child Left Behind Act? and 3) In what ways will public and private education be adversely affected by the credit crunch and broader economic problems; and what will the candidates’ platforms do for public school funding, voucher programs and college tuition that affect so many students in Long Beach?
Since I fall short of being an expert on these topics, we recruited a local, respected educator and former presidential staff member and senatorial campaign manager to help break it all down. The questions were posed to Dr. Craig Smith, faculty trustee of the Cal State University system, professor and Film Department chair at CSULB. What I especially appreciate about Dr. Smith is his focus on communication. His Ph.D. is in this area and he regularly lectures nationally on rhetoric in politics.
Dr. Smith agreed to help us answer these questions objectively, and we found the following:
1) On the first question, what might these guys do based on their records? We find the following.
Senator McCain
He would likely make it a priority to fix K-12 education by pushing states to put in place teacher assessment tools, such as merit pay, to reward effective teachers, retrain those with some problems, and fire those who are ineffective.
Senator Obama
Recognizing that we have a teacher shortage, he would likely provide incentives to increase the number of teachers. He would also increase educational oversight from the federal level.
Both
Supported and will continue to support expansion of the Pell Grant, including more liberal age requirements, which particularly benefits CSULB and other CSU campuses that enjoy “older” student populations. Both would likely embrace innovation such as that implemented in the CSU known as the Early Assessment Program, which tests students in the 11th grade to determine if they need remedial work in math and English. If they do, that work can be done in the 12th grade instead of in their freshman year of college, thereby saving resources for strapped colleges. Both candidates also claim they would initiate programs to retain teachers, considering the nation now loses about 30% of teachers within five years of being hired.
2) If elected, how will the respective candidates change the controversial No Child Left Behind Act?
Senator McCain
He voted for Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, favors teacher merit pay and accountability measures and would likely continue the program as these are some of its major tenets. He believes it was underfunded and that it should encourage charter schools.
Senator Obama
Agrees with the goal of No Child Left Behind but believes more funding is necessary to achieve the goal. Based on the lack of funding and the fact that teachers unions oppose merit pay and accountability mandates, it is unlikely that he would continue the program. He’s pro-union and receives much financial support from them.
Both
Both candidates agree on the goal of No Child Left Behind, but disagree on how it has been and should be implemented.
3) In what ways will public and private education be adversely affected by the credit crunch and broader economic problems; and what will the candidates’ platforms do for public school funding, voucher programs and college tuition?
According to Dr. Smith, the current economic situation will result in fewer students getting loans, and fewer campuses getting bonds and loans to construct new buildings and repair old ones.
Senator McCain
Dr. Smith notes that McCain has pointed out that there is no lack of funding for early childhood education, and that it amounts to $25 billion. He is likely to reorganize the funds with stricter oversight from the Secretary of Education. Since he has been critical of corruption within Head Start schools, he may reform them by requiring measurable standards of success. In K-12, McCain would provide incentives for inspirational teachers, such as merit pay – something opposed by teachers unions. He will likely allow parents a larger role in selecting which school their child attends, which would entail a voucher program for the parents, and has spoke about providing additional funds for digital tutoring of students. In higher education, McCain stresses the importance of keeping students competitive in science and math. For families, he would consolidate tax benefits for higher education and do the same with grants and loans.
Senator Obama
According to Dr. Smith, Obama will increase spending on early childhood education (Obama has repeatedly mentioned that every child has the right to an early education). This would include parental involvement and build[ing] off the Head Start programs now in existence. He would also provide child care benefits to working parents, more support for charter schools and claims he will close down low performing schools. He plans to provide funds to districts to intervene in situations that might lead to drop outs. He supports increased funding for after-school programs. He supports the federal bridge and outreach programs of colleges to K-12 schools, which assist minorities and people from underserved communities in transitioning into college (CSULB maintains two of these programs and both have been successful). He would also increase the number of AP classes available to students in high school, thereby relieving pressure on college while providing an incentive for students to continue on to college. In terms of teachers, he would create new Teacher Service Scholarships to pay for teacher education. An Obama presidency would provide $4,000 to each college freshman as a tax credit to the parents in return for 100 hours of community service on the part of the student. According to Dr. Smith, Senator Obama’s plan is ambitious and expensive.
There you have it – responses to questions important to people in Long Beach, a city whose population deserves straight talk on how educational policy will change over the next four years. Thank you, Dr. Smith, for your analysis of the candidates.
Report Card
Long Beach plays host to a superior, nationally recognized K-12 public school system, two quality institutions of higher education and many private schools. Join Miles as he reports on educational updates and interprets policy affecting stakeholders in our vast educational structure.
