John Kerry on Education

[JailForBush]

From http://johnkerry.com/issues/education/index.html:

"Strengthening America's Schools for the 21st Century
John Kerry believes that we need to invest in our schools instead of giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. He has the courage to fight for our children’s future every day. When it comes to education, George W. Bush has been the photo-op President. He stands next to children and teachers for a picture, but he doesn’t stand with them when it comes to improving our public schools. By signing the No Child Left Behind Act and then breaking his promise by not giving schools the resources to help meet new standards, George Bush has undermined public education and left millions of children behind."

True.

"As President, John Kerry will roll up his sleeves and get things done for America’s schools. It’s time to stop sending new mandates from Washington to school districts without providing the necessary resources needed to carry out those new rules. That’s why John Kerry is proposing a new ‘Education Trust Fund’ that means fully funding education, no questions asked."

Fully funding education, NO QUESTIONS ASKED??? Does Kerry have a clue about the corruption in public education? Does he realize that corporations are running the show?

"John Kerry also believes that given the demands of a global economy, every single child has to be able to reach high standards in order to prosper. To ensure that all children can meet high standards, we need to do so much more to improve our public education system. John Kerry will support teachers, reduce class sizes, and rebuild crumbling schools."

High standards? Oh, please, corporate standards are one of the biggest problems in education. How about imposing some standards on school administrators and teachers unions?

Sorry, but education is one issue no Democratic or Republican candidate will ever nail. Therefore, I wish they wouldn't even mention it. I'm sick of candidates exploiting kids for votes, then letting corporations exploit them after they get elected.

[Cheswick2.0]

1. NCLB sucks... just ask any teacher or school administrator

it is another reason I will not vote for Kerry. He supported it and still does apparently. I will never vote for kerry.
But you can complain about public education all you want. You aren't going to get much support here except from republicans.

[JailForBush]

2. I'll vote for Kerry as the lesser of evils.

But I'll never stop criticizing his education games, even if I criticize Bush's attacks on education even more harshly.

"You aren't going to get much support here except from republicans."

Ha! That isn't far from the truth. Actually, I've virtually no Republicans or Democrats here in Washington State who either have a clue about education or care. Ditto for the Greens and Libertarians. What a sick joke.

[jmoss]

6. Response to a Special Ed. Teacher (me) who wrote Senator Edwards

from the horses mouth:

Dear Mr. Moss:

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts regarding the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). I appreciate hearing from you and thank you for your kind words.

As you know, IDEA is an enormously important program that significantly impacts our educational system, and I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts about this law. Thank you for your dedication to the young people of Chatham County.

I understand that you are particularly concerned about the discipline provisions in IDEA. As you wrote, the IDEA reauthorization legislation passed by the House would allow for higher degrees of severity in disciplinary actions. I appreciate your strong support for this provision, and I will work with my colleagues to ensure that the discipline provisions in IDEA provide a safe environment for all students. In addition, I appreciate hearing your thoughts about assessment models for evaluating children, particularly the "discrepancy" model. Please be assured that I will keep the information you have provided in mind.

Finally, I firmly believe that we in Washington can and should make good on our promise to help our communities meet their special education needs by fully funding IDEA. As you know, educating children with disabilities is one of the most expensive endeavors our schools undertake. For nearly three decades, however, the federal government has failed to deliver on its promise to fund IDEA at 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure. Even at its highest, federal aid for special education has only reached 17.5 percent of local costs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we fully fund this important legislation.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns and suggestions with me. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

John Edwards
United States Senate

[Mile Hi]

3. NCLB is wrong

Ever since the government started implementing testing standards in the local schools they have only taught to the test and left everything else behind.

We need to get local control back in the schools. Kerry is wrong for voting for NCLB

[JailForBush]

4. Wouldn't it be cool if we forced Kerry to change his ways by sniping

at his education policies on DU? If enough liberals and independents spoke out, he might be pressured into doing the right thing - though we'd have to make one helluva noise to make him back down from the corporate interests that run our schools.

[jmoss]

5. news for Kerry supporters

.......this view is NOT unique to John Kerry. Please don't be mistaken that he is some kind of man of the people.

If you want that in a President, you options are John Edwards or Dennis Kucinich.