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Opinion Across The Fence McCain's educational plan falls short John McCain appears to have the Republican nomination for president all sewn up.
The man has always impressed me with his strength of character, his courage, his integrity and his reputation as a maverick. But as I watched him on one of the weekly talk shows early Sunday morning, one of his comments brought me up short. McCain, who favors tax breaks or credits to enable Americans to obtain their own health care coverage, said he was opposed to any federal mandate — like a national health insurance plan — that might be imposed on the nation. Wait a minute, Senator. How exactly would you categorize the No Child Left Behind mandates that were pushed into law by the current administration? Not only has NCLB grossly expanded the federal government's role in education, but it also has become an ugly and unwanted monster greedily gobbling up local and state education resources across America. Anytime the government — at any level — demands certain actions or programs and then fails to provide the necessary funding, the folks at the grassroots level are forced to carry additional burdens. NCLB has created unreasonable rules and muddied the water between state and federal standards. Teachers and school administrators must walk a tightrope that covers both sets of rules. The duplication is not only unnecessary, but it is disheartening to students and their teachers. Furthermore, the focus on test scores has stripped teachers of their ability to pursue creative approaches to learning. Field trips have been eliminated. Hands-on experiences have been limited. If it doesn't meet the mandates, then it can't be included. And all classrooms are becoming more and more standardized on subject matter while the essence of values and character that made America strong is disappearing. I was disappointed when I checked McCain's official election Web site to find education far down the list of his "focus" issues. What I did find focuses on generalities, including parental choice and a "voucher" system. It talks about "competition" for good teachers and "student centered" campuses. I'm not really sure what all of that means. But I know I'm opposed to "voucher" systems and other plans that essentially move education away from the public system that has been a common denominator for American children for a couple of centuries. Wealthy kids often attend private or parochial schools. I saw a sign in front of one of those local schools the other day that touted itself as being "TAKS-FREE." There's no doubt that the students at that particular school receive a solid and well-rounded education. Unfortunately, not all parents can afford the tuition. And, I don't buy the idea that "vouchers" will level that particular educational playing field. I believe that parents play a key role in education and the amount of money they make isn't the most important factor. Education was a No. 1 priority in our family. It was my father's constant refrain. And because it was important to him, it became important to my brother and me. Learning is an ingrained part of our family culture. That fact holds true for an enormous number of families across the United States, because it's also been a primary part of the American culture. Every child knew that a good education, combined with a little hard work, was the key to a bright and prosperous future. And all of us, by virtue of our public school systems, had the opportunity to get that education. I'd be foolish to say that schools don't vary from one part of the country to the other, but I can say to you that I attended a great many public schools in several cities through Texas, California and Arkansas. And I'll also tell you that each of those schools made unique and valuable contributions to my education. But at the heart of every school was a staff of dedicated teachers. Some were tougher than others; some were more fun, but they all knew their stuff, and they were there to share it with their students. Maybe instead of pouring more money into federal plans like NCLB or spending millions to develop a new federal program, McCain should begin thinking about a workable plan to improve pay for teachers nationwide and to reward them not on the basis of students' test scores but in students' overall knowledge and long-term appreciation for learning. Kathie Greer: Columnist and consultant for the Amarillo Independent. She can be reached @ kathie@amarilloindy.com. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: March 13, 2008
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