Mitt Romney changed the debate today and focused on education, offering a position, but little details, on how his administration would handle education. He supports a voucher system that would allow parents to unshackle their children from a failed government education system and give them the freedom to choose where their child gets an education:
The plan will allow low-income and disabled students use federal funding to attend public schools, public charter schools and, in some cases, private schools. Federal funds could also be applied to tutors or digital courses.
The plan is in line with GOP reforms aimed at giving students more educational choices. But it’s unclear how schools in areas that depend on the federal funding would fare.
The proposal is not expected to include any new federal money for education.
I’m conflicted on this. I like seeing a candidate come out in support of school choice, but I don’t like the GOP candidate proposing a federal education policy that doesn’t include removing the federal government from the education system.
And Romney has “evolved” on his position regarding the Department of Education:
Romney’s positions on education have evolved over time. He once supported abolishing the Education Department but reversed that position as a presidential candidate in 2007. At the time, he said he came to see the value of the federal government in “holding down the interests of the teachers’ unions” and putting kids and parents first.
I wish he could see the value of not having the federal government operate outside the parameters established in the Constitution.
While I like Romney’s position, it would fit better on a governor’s agenda. The GOP candidate should be about limited government, including reining the government back in where it has strayed in the past. Politically, Romney would have gained points by channeling Reagan, calling for the abolition of the Department of Education and explaining the benefits of leaving education to the states. (However, some suggestion federalism is a second language to Romney, limiting his ability to explain it effectively.)
It would have motivated me a bit more to support Romney had he taken a firmer stance for federalism and education. How about you?
My kids will be homeschooled but I think we need to abolish the Department of Education (Can I get a Ron Paul 2012?) What would motivate me to support Romney? If I believed that he really would support the Republican Party Platform in general.
Amen to everything you just said. Amen, Sister!
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Romney is our man, like it or not. He’s the best we have right now, who can also win. Jesus isn’t running (yet again) this go-around. Romney is a straight shooter and won’t steer too far wrong.
Hey Saul, how’s Frank Rizzo doing?
I’m not too knowledgeable on this topic.
But when did the federal govt start handling the interests of education? Was there a definite point in which the state surrendered that role to the federal government?
Also, I’m guessing the federal govt only concerns itself with public schooling? Or is this not the case? Does the Dept of Education also have say in private schools (such as a Catholic high school).
Thank you.
Yea, we are going to homeschool our kids as well. I wish I didn’t have to pay for the education of other kids. It would be nice to get the extra towards giving my kids a better education. Plus with the system being so screwed up the teachers have had to become babysitters rather than teachers.