Education: 2008 contenders' views

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Giuliani: Flawed or Flawless?

Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional about the Legacy You Leave, by Mike Huckabee

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Joe Biden on Education

Democratic Sr Senator (DE); Vice President-Elect

Click here for 27 full quotes by Joe Biden OR click here for Joe Biden on other issues.

No Child Left Behind was left behind. (Oct 2008)
Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes. (Dec 2007)
Laid out a $30 billion plan over five years for education. (Nov 2007)
For longer school day & school year, & 16-year minimum. (Oct 2007)
$3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K. (Sep 2007)
There needs to be performance-based pay for teachers. (Aug 2007)
Teach sex ed in schools; including prevention methods. (Aug 2007)
Sent kids to private school after death of their mother. (Jul 2007)
Overcome racial achievement gap with early education. (Jun 2007)
Pay teachers more to get better educational results. (Apr 2007)
FactCheck: Japan pays teachers more, but not India & China. (Apr 2007)
NCLB needs more resources, but also is fundamentally flawed. (Feb 2007)
Princeton was last Ivy holdout to admit women & minorities. (Jan 2006)
Voting Record
Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Hillary Clinton on Education

Democratic Jr Senator (NY); Secretary of State-Designee

Click here for 66 full quotes by Hillary Clinton OR click here for 6 older headlines OR click here for Hillary Clinton on other issues.

Parents are a child�s first teachers. (Jan 2008)
Get more teachers into hard-to-serve areas. (Nov 2007)
Hillary emphasized education reform without political agenda. (Oct 2007)
We have not yet reached consensus on education reform. (Sep 2007)
Universal pre-kindergarten; and make family the best school. (Aug 2007)
Working families cannot participate in school between 9 & 3. (Jul 2007)
It takes a village; American village has failed our children. (Jun 2007)
Establish right to education from pre-school thru college. (Jun 2007)
Early education affects things from IQ to lifelong earnings. (Dec 2006)
2001: Proposed and passed National Teacher Corps. (Dec 2006)
Teacher testing only for new teachers. (Oct 2000)
Testing only new teachers respects professionalism. (Oct 2000)
Hold kids to high standards, starting at home. (Jul 1999)
Teachers need more peer consulting & more recognition. (Jul 1999)
Social promotion cheats our children. (Jul 1999)
More after-school; smaller classes. (Jul 1999)
Read to young kids 20-30 minutes daily. (Jul 1999)
Entire school staff should focus on school safety. (Jul 1999)
Metal detectors at school are not much of an intrusion. (Jun 1999)
Arts education is needed in our schools. (Sep 1998)
Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs. (Apr 1998)
Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction. (Sep 1996)
Character education: teach empathy & self-discipline. (Sep 1996)
Supports Goals 2000: hardly the stuff of revolution. (Sep 1996)
Supports structured inner-city schools, with uniforms. (May 1996)
Arkansas Ed Reform
AR Ed Reform taught that there is a place for testing. (Sep 2007)
Sent Chelsea to public schools in Arkansas, but not DC. (Jul 2007)
1983: Teacher testing as part of AR education reform. (Jun 2007)
AR Reform plan pushed mandatory teacher testing. (Nov 2003)
Arkansas education: improvement against great odds. (Oct 2000)
Pushed teacher testing in Arkansas. (Dec 1999)
AR ed reform: mandate kindergarten, no social promotion. (Dec 1999)
1983: Challenged low education expectations. (Aug 1999)
1993: Public accepted First Lady as education reformer. (Aug 1999)
Passing illiterate students is educational fraud. (Sep 1983)
Education Funding
End predatory student college loan rates over 20%. (Apr 2008)
Fully fund special education & 21st century classrooms. (Dec 2007)
Incentive pay for school wide performance. (Aug 2007)
Transfer tax cuts from rich & corporations to student aid. (Jun 2006)
Reforms: teacher corps; more federal funding; modernize. (Sep 2000)
Opposes merit pay for individual teachers. (Apr 2000)
Supports merit pay for entire schools. (Apr 2000)
Scholarships for teachers who go to urban schools. (Mar 2000)
Increase resources to meet increased standards. (Mar 2000)
Address teacher shortage with salary increases. (Jul 1999)
School Choice
Total change in No Child Left Behind. (Aug 2007)
Supports public school choice; but not private nor parochial. (Oct 2006)
More teachers, smaller classes, no vouchers. (Oct 2000)
Vouchers would take money from public schools. (Oct 2000)
Vouchers drain money from public schools. (Sep 2000)
Vouchers will not improve our public schools. (Jul 1999)
Let�s build up our schools-not tear them down. (Jul 1999)
Charter schools provide choice within public system. (Jul 1999)
Charters meet needs of failing public school students. (Aug 1998)
Vouchers siphon off much-needed resources. (Aug 1998)
Parents can choose, but support public schools. (Feb 1997)
Supports public school choice and charter schools. (Sep 1996)
Voting Record
Solemn vow never to abandon our public schools. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Tom Daschle on Education

Former Democratic Senator (SD); Secretary of H.H.S.-Designee

Click here for 13 full quotes by Tom Daschle OR click here for Tom Daschle on other issues.

Bush has not upheld NCLB deal with schools. (Jan 2004)
Our children deserve affordable college. (Jan 2004)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
Voted NO on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Rahm Emanuel on Education

Democratic Rep. (IL-5); Chief of Staff-Designee

Click here for 5 full quotes by Rahm Emanuel OR click here for Rahm Emanuel on other issues.

Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Robert Gates on Education

Secretary of Defense-Designee

Click here for Robert Gates on other issues.

No stance on record.

Timothy Geithner on Education

Secretary of Treasury-Designee

Click here for Timothy Geithner on other issues.

No stance on record.

Eric Holder on Education

Attorney General-Designee

Click here for Eric Holder on other issues.

No stance on record.

John McCain on Education

Republican nominee for President; Senior Senator (AZ)

Click here for 56 full quotes by John McCain OR click here for 3 older headlines OR click here for John McCain on other issues.

Achieved equality in schools; but failing schools don�t help. (Oct 2008)
I want schools to answer to parents and students. (Sep 2008)
Pay bonuses to teachers in the most troubled schools. (Jul 2008)
Target funding to recruit top graduates as teachers. (Jul 2008)
Direct $750 million to build virtual schools. (Jul 2008)
Give parents easier access to obtain help for their children. (Jul 2008)
Shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition. (Jun 2008)
Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. (Jun 2007)
Believes in evolution, but sees the hand of God in nature. (May 2007)
Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings. (Feb 2000)
Teach virtues in all schools. (Dec 1999)
Enlist retirees for tutoring. (Nov 1999)
Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers. (Oct 1999)
Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally. (Aug 1999)
Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work. (Jul 1999)
Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses. (Jul 1999)
Supports �Reading Excellence�; and rewarding good schools. (Jul 1999)
Supports at-risk programs; homeless ed.; anti-drop-out ed. (Jul 1999)
Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)
Merit pay & competency testing for teachers. (Jun 1999)
Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency. (May 1999)
School Choice
Vouchers in DC work; parents wait in line for them. (Oct 2008)
Vouchers and school choice for all. (Jul 2008)
Offer more choices to those who wish to become teachers. (Jul 2008)
Place parents & children at the center of education. (Feb 2008)
We need more choice and competition in education. (Dec 2007)
Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success. (Dec 2007)
Local charters are the best Arizona schools. (Mar 2000)
Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing. (Feb 2000)
Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers. (Jan 2000)
Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds. (Dec 1999)
Vouchers & charters will improve our school system. (Oct 1999)
Nationwide test of school vouchers. (Sep 1999)
$5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers. (Jul 1999)
Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools. (Jun 1999)
Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents. (May 1999)
Vouchers needed where teachers fail. (May 1999)
Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending. (Feb 2000)
Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools. (May 1999)
Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted NO on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need. (Jul 2001)
Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions. (Jul 2001)
Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable. (Jul 2001)
Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)

Janet Napolitano on Education

Democratic AZ Governor; Designee for Secretary of Homeland Security

Click here for 6 full quotes by Janet Napolitano OR click here for Janet Napolitano on other issues.

Recommend funding for voluntary full-day kindergarten. (Jan 2004)
Emphasize the importance of reading literacy. (Jan 2004)
Scholarship program for early childhood education teachers. (Jan 2004)
Help teachers undergo the necessary training. (Jan 2004)
No cut in higher education funding. (Jan 2004)
Supports school choice without expense of vouchers. (Sep 2002)

Barack Obama on Education

Junior Senator (IL); President-Elect

Click here for 41 full quotes by Barack Obama OR click here for Barack Obama on other issues.

Invest in early childhood education and higher education. (Aug 2008)
Fight for social & economic justice begins in the classroom. (Jul 2008)
To compete, students need at least H.S. & college degree. (Jun 2008)
Pay for college education for those who commit to teaching. (Jun 2008)
We need real commitment to education; instead we got NCLB. (Jun 2008)
$10 billion to guarantee early childhood education for all. (Jun 2008)
Merit pay ok if based on career instead of a single test. (Apr 2008)
Evolution & science aren�t incompatible with Christian faith. (Apr 2008)
Children�s First Agenda: zero to five early education. (Feb 2008)
$4,000 college tuition for 100 hours� public service a year. (Feb 2008)
Put billions of dollars into early childhood education. (Jan 2008)
Need after-school and summer programs with good parenting. (Jan 2008)
Get parents re-engaged in educating the children. (Dec 2007)
Nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings. (Sep 2007)
STEP UP: summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged. (Aug 2007)
We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind. (Aug 2007)
Pay �master teachers� extra, but with buy-in from teachers. (Aug 2007)
Supreme Court was wrong on school anti-integration ruling. (Jul 2007)
Incentives to hire a million teachers over next decade. (Jun 2007)
Pay teachers more money & treat them like professionals. (Jun 2007)
Cut banks out and add $4.5 Billion to college loans. (Mar 2007)
More teacher pay in exchange for more teacher accountability. (Oct 2006)
Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education. (Jun 2006)
Sex education needed to help children discuss molestation. (Oct 2004)
Provide decent funding and get rid of anti-intellectualism. (Jul 2004)
Address the growing achievement gap between students. (May 2004)
Will add 25,000 teachers in high-need areas. (May 2004)
Free public college for any student with B-average. (Jul 1998)
School Choice
I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers. (Oct 2008)
Vouchers don�t solve the problems of our schools. (Oct 2008)
FactCheck: McCain for national reforms & also DC vouchers. (Oct 2008)
Supports charter schools; it�s important to experiment. (Feb 2008)
We need a sense of urgency about improving education system. (Sep 2007)
Sends kids to private school; but wants good schools for all. (Jul 2007)
Public school system status quo is indefensible. (Oct 2006)
Supports charter schools and private investment in schools. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
First Senate bill: increase Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100. (Aug 2007)
Sponsored legislations that recruit and reward good teachers. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)

Sarah Palin on Education

Republican Governor (AK); ; nominee for Vice President

Click here for 25 full quotes by Sarah Palin OR click here for Sarah Palin on other issues.

We need more flexibility in No Child Left Behind. (Oct 2008)
Never tried to ban books in the Wasilla Library. (Sep 2008)
Science teacher as dad; believes in teaching evolution. (Sep 2008)
Teach creationism alongside evolution in schools. (Aug 2008)
Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools. (Aug 2008)
294 Alaska public schools progressed under NCLB. (Aug 2008)
School debate should focus on accountability. (Jan 2008)
Committed to providing strong education, including morals. (Jan 2008)
Budget funds education, but will to work is also critical. (Jan 2008)
Court ruling against NEA: state adequately funds education. (Jun 2007)
Fully fund K-12 and support early funding of education. (Jan 2007)
Supports $20 million needs-based aid for U. Alaska. (Nov 2006)
Forward-fund K-12 schools to allow better planning. (Nov 2006)
Supports charter schools, home schools, & other alternatives. (Nov 2006)
Target early education programs to at-risk groups. (Nov 2006)
Alignment between parents, teachers, schools, & business. (Nov 2006)
Faith-based materials ok in homeschooling. (Nov 2006)
ABC method: back to basics, plus patriotism & ethics. (Nov 2006)
Supports parental choice for what is best for their children. (Nov 2006)
Don�t push school boards on creationism but allow discussion. (Oct 2006)
I believe we have a creator; and many theories of evolution. (Oct 2006)
Support charters & home schools; not private school vouchers. (Oct 2006)
Let parents opt out of schoolbooks they find offensive. (Jul 2006)
Parents know best, about school spending & school age. (Jul 2006)
Pledge of Allegiance with �Under God� is good enough. (Jul 2006)

Bill Richardson on Education

Democratic Governor (NM); Secretary of Commerce-Designee

Click here for 25 full quotes by Bill Richardson OR click here for Bill Richardson on other issues.

FactCheck: NM teacher salary only moved from 44th to 36th. (Dec 2007)
FactCheck: NM test scores have not made �enormous progress�. (Dec 2007)
Make education a top priority and scrap No Child Left Behind. (Dec 2007)
$60 billion plan to make American education #1 in world. (Dec 2007)
Create science and math academies with 100,000 new teachers. (Nov 2007)
Commit to extending school day and/or the school year. (Oct 2007)
Start earlier with preschool for every child under 4. (Sep 2007)
Pay off college loans in exchange for national service. (Sep 2007)
Minimum wage for our teachers: $40,000 per year. (Aug 2007)
One-point plan on No Child Left Behind: Scrap it. (Aug 2007)
Scrap No Child Left Behind; it doesn�t work. (Jul 2007)
Help failing schools; don�t penalize by defunding them. (Jul 2007)
Minimum wage of $40,000 for teachers. (Jul 2007)
Supreme Court backstabbed equality of Brown v. Board of Ed. (Jul 2007)
Nobody asks how we pay for war; why do we ask on education? (Jun 2007)
Eliminate junk food in schools; statewide smoking ban. (Mar 2007)
Equip every 7th grader with a laptop computer. (Jan 2004)
Increase the salary of school teachers. (Jan 2004)
A plan that can reach straightforward education goals. (Jan 2004)
Charter schools show tremendous promise. (Jan 2004)
Expand the lottery scholarship program for college students. (Jan 2004)
No vouchers: they abandon public schools. (Oct 2002)
Provide parents with vouchers, even for religious schools. (Nov 1996)
Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible. (Jan 1993)

Eric Shinseki on Education

Secretary of Veterans Affairs-Designee

Click here for Eric Shinseki on other issues.

No stance on record.

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