A
Anonymous
Guest
From the Get drunk to gag down McCain folks-- a 4 martooni liver wrecker.... :wink: :lol:
McCain Backs Rev Al’s ‘Education Reform’August 4th, 2008
From the New York Daily News:
It’s time for education reform
By John McCain
Sunday, August 3rd 2008
Campaigning at town halls across America, I am often asked about my plans to reform our public schools. And the answer begins with two points on which most everyone agrees: Every public school child deserves a first-rate education. And too many of our schools are producing second-rate results.
Beyond that, the education debate divides quickly into two camps. Some say all that’s needed is more taxpayer money, along with more pre-kindergarten and after-school programs. Others believe that the basic structure of the education system is flawed, and that fundamental reform is needed. You can put me squarely on the side of major reform.
These days, the cause of education reform crosses all boundaries of party, race and financial means. In New York, Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein have taken up the cause of reform, as have many others, including the Rev. Al Sharpton. These men are strong supporters of the Education Equality Project, a group dedicated to finally changing the status quo in our education system.
This group of leaders is no longer willing to accept a public school system in which many students never even graduate or learn the basics of math, science and English. As Chancellor Klein puts it, “In large urban areas the culture of public education is broken. If you don’t fix this culture, then you are not going to be able to make the kind of changes that are needed.” …
Yet Democrats in Congress, including my opponent, Sen. Obama, oppose this program. Not long ago, addressing the American Federation of Teachers, he dismissed public support for private school vouchers for low-income Americans as “tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice.” That went over well with the teachers union, but where does it leave children who are stuck in failing schools?
Parents ask only for safe schools, competent teachers and diplomas that open doors of opportunity. When a public school fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity.
If I am elected President, school choice for all who want it, an expansion of Opportunity Scholarships and alternative certification for teachers will all be part of a serious agenda of education reform. We will pay bonuses to teachers working in our most troubled schools because we need their fine minds and good hearts to help turn those schools around…
I am proud to add my name to the growing list of those who support the Education Equality Project. But one name is still missing: Barack Obama. My opponent talks a great deal about hope and change, and education is an important test of his seriousness. The Education Equality Project is a practical plan for delivering change and restoring hope for children and parents who need a lot of both. And if Sen. Obama continues to defer to the teachers unions, instead of committing to real reform, then he should start looking for new slogans.
In case you don’t know about the ‘Education Equality Project,’ here is a press release enumerating some of the heroes behind it:
New National Education Reform Coalition Calls Fixing Public Education the Civil Rights Struggle of the 21st Century
Rev. Sharpton, NYC Schools’ Chancellor and Other Leaders to Launch Education Equality Project
Wed, 06/11/2008
Reverend Al Sharpton and New York City Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein joined with elected officials, civil rights leaders, and education reformers from across the country today to announce the launch of the Education Equality Project, a new organization focused on transforming America’s public schools and educational outcomes for high-needs students.
The Project will challenge politicians, public officials, educators, union leaders, and others to view fixing public schools as the foremost civil rights issue of the early 21st Century. It will focus America’s attention on its highest needs students, who—54 years after Brown v. Board of Education—still receive far less educational opportunity and often struggle and fail in school…
Founding Project members include elected officials, civil rights leaders, and education reformers…
“Today, an unprecedented coalition has come together to confront the racial disparities in education and address the issue of education as a new civil rights movement to bring equality to education in this country,” Rev. Sharpton said. “We challenge both presidential candidates to recognize that we haven’t come close to achieving racial equality in educational opportunity.”
“It took our country 165 years to conclude that, under our Constitution, separate isn’t equal in education, but, still, 54 years after Brown v. Board of Education, too often our schools fail our highest needs students,” Chancellor Klein said. “We need to get serious about giving all children the education they need to succeed. It won’t be easy—the status quo has lots of defenders—but it can be done and it is absolutely essential that we do it.” …
--------------------------------------------------------
All this talk of reform sounds nice. (Especially the talk about ‘choice.’) But when exactly did education become a federal issue?
Whenever the federal government has gotten involved in schooling, trouble has has been sure to follow. (Cf. ‘No Child Left Behind.’)
And signing on to a project spearheaded by Al Sharpton that seems like yet another race-baiting bamboozle?
What are you thinking, Mr. McCain?
Sheesh.
http://getdrunkandvote4mccain.com/