Hillary's Choice: on Education

Arkansas project: broaden experiences for children

Her pet project as Arkansas’ First Lady was educational reform, which was to grow into the signature of the entire Clinton reign. “We’ve got some really bright, talented students in this state; we’ve just got to build their self-esteem,” she said at the time. While teaching at the state university, Hillary had been saddened by how limited the students’ experiences were. To “offer them more classes & broader exposure,” Hillary launched a summer program for gifted high school juniors. Source: Hillary’s Choice by Gail Sheehy, p.130-131 Dec 9, 1999

Pushed teacher testing in Arkansas

[In 1983, while chairing a committee to improve Arkansas’ education system, then ranked 50th in the nation], Hillary snapped up the idea of higher standards for teachers which conservatives in the legislature were pushing. “Why don’t we have a test for teachers and fire the ones that fail?” she suggested.
Hillary spearheaded a requirement for a onetime teacher examination. She pushed on to introduce a consumer rights approach to education, and he concept of continuing education for educators. Source: Hillary’s Choice by Gail Sheehy, p.152-153 Dec 9, 1999

AR ed reform: mandate kindergarten, no social promotion

mandatory full-day kindergarten
a 20-to-1 pupil-to-teacher ratio
testing students before they could be promoted
more math and science units
recommended that extracurricular activities not interrupt the school day: “When you play, you should play hard. And when you work, you should work hard. But you shouldn’t confuse the two.”

Source: Hillary’s Choice by Gail Sheehy, p.153 Dec 9, 1999

*The above quotations are from Hillary's Choice, by Gail Sheehy.* Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for more quotes by Hillary Clinton on Education.
*2008 Presidential contenders on Education:*
*Republicans:* Mayor Rudy Giuliani Gov.Mike Huckabee Rep.Duncan Hunter Sen.John McCain Rep.Ron Paul Gov.Mitt Romney Sen.Fred Thompson Gov.Tommy Thompson	*Democrats:* Sen.Hillary Clinton Sen.John Edwards Sen.Mike Gravel Rep.Dennis Kucinich Sen.Barack Obama	*Third Parties:* Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Socialist: Brian Moore Independent: Mayor Mike Bloomberg
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