Presidential Hopefuls Comment on NCLB

Fred Thompson and Bill Richardson, both hopeful candidates for the 2008 Presidential Elections, turned their attention to education in September, specifically focusing on No Child Left Behind (NCLB). While other candidates spent this week campaigning on issues such as universal health coverage, and Iraq, Governor Richardson, and former Sen. Thompson spoke on the state of American education, and the direction they would take the country if they were elected next November.

While campaigning in Florida, Republican hopeful Thompson suggested that it's time to move past NCLB, suggesting that the federal government has gotten too involved. Thompson’s comments surprised some, considering that, as a senator in 2001, he voted for NCLB. Campaigning in the Republican stronghold of Jacksonville at the start of a Florida campaign kick-off bus tour, Thompson said the President's signature education program isn't working and promised that, if he is elected, he would provide federal school funding with fewer strings attached. Thompson said his message to the states would be: "We expect you to get objective testing done and publicize those tests for the local parents and for the local citizens and suffer the political ramifications locally if things don't work out right."

Meanwhile, New Mexico Governor, and Democratic hopeful, Richardson published an editorial in USA Today regarding his views on NCLB. Richardson agrees with Thompson regarding NCLB’s failure to improve schools, but his proposals focus more on enforcing strict standards and rewarding teachers. Richardson wants to provide public schools with what the National Education Association (NEA) refers to as the three R's — Responsibility, Respect and Resources. His key to improvement is respecting teachers. He discussed a law he signed in New Mexico that pays teachers a professional salary, and promised that, if elected president, he will fight for a national average starting pay for teachers of at least $40,000 a year. He also called for universal pre-K for all students. Finally, he is advocating for strong academic standards aligned with the needs of today's workforce.

Neither Richardson nor Thompson are considered front runners, though Thompson is likely further ahead on the Republican side than Richardson is with Democrats. However, both hopefuls have been the only candidates to discussion education in-depth while on the campaign trail. Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-NY) discussed a few education-related matters with the NEA, but no other candidate has offered any real suggestions thus far, focusing much more on the war in Iraq, and other, more high-profile issues. Thompson and Richardson’s actions this week show how those candidates that are behind in the polls tend to focus more on domestic issues, trying to connect with American voters, rather than offering rhetoric on the big issues, like every other candidate. It is unlikely that education will take a greater prominence in Presidential debates, but this week’s news at least shows that it is still a concern for registered voters.

Resources:
Gov. Bill Richardson, “NCLB Fails Our Schools,” USA Today, September 7, 2007.
Mark Silva, “Thompson: Leave 'No Child Left Behind' Behind,” Baltimore Sun, September 13, 2007.
Author: SAS