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I know, I know… not all haiku LMS users live in the United States. But those who do are well aware that the political campaigns have been in full swing for a long time now. It appears that the GOP race is all but over and John McCain is the inevitable candidate. But Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are still battling for the Democratic nomination.
For those who care deeply about the educational experience in the US, let’s take a glimpse at what the candidates say they have planned for after the election. Here are a few highlights from their campaign websites:
- Focus on early care and education for infants including head start and child care.
- Revise and fund NCLB.
- Prioritize math and science.
- Expand drop out intervention.
- Teacher Service Scholarships in exchange for 4 years of service in high need areas.
- Create a new $4,000 college tax credit.
- “He believes all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools.”
- Early child care & head start support.
- End NCLB.
- Recruit & retain thousands of teachers.
- Create “Green Schools.”
- Provide $1 billion in intensive interventions for at-risk youth.
- Create a new $3,500 college tax credit.
Ok, so it is clear from their websites that the Democrats have thought through the issues related to education a great deal more than Mr. McCain. To be fair, McCain is not in a close, heated battle where nuances in issues are few. So, perhaps his education plan will gain more detail in the general election. That said, it is a bit concerning that the GOP do not seem to care about education at the national level… at least based on their support for a candidate with such limited attention to the issue in his campaign.
It seems that the teacher unions are split in their endorsements for Obama and Clinton. I may have missed it, but I don’t recall seeing anything about the unions supporting McCain. Hmm, could that be another reason for his rather narrow education plank? But what about you? Educators are not a collective, right? Who will you support and why? Does a candidate’s regard for technology as a teaching and communication tool inform your choice? What issues are really important to you? How optimistic are you about the future of our country’s educational system given the upcoming election? What should a company like HAIKU consider as we attempt to help you help your students learn?
