Wondering how the candidates compare on the little-mentioned issue of education? Patrick R. Riccards has looked at the official campaign platforms and laid out the major similarities and differences between them. He sums it up this way:
McCain — Standards, accountability, quality, empower, excellence, parents, effectiveness, choice
Obama — High quality, opportunity, teachers, programs, support, rewards
Riccards suggests that McCain is ideas-oriented and Obama is program-oriented. After reading his summary, I'd say Obama seems more focused on making the public system work for more children, and expanding it accordingly, with improvements to Head Start and expansion of early childhood education programs. McCain is more "choice"-oriented, interested in expanding vouchers programs and charter schools.
The differences come out looking more philosophical than concrete. And given the desperation of the economy and a neverending war (or two), I am guessing education will be on the back burner for a while in the next administration. Still, it is always preferable to have someone at the top likely to share your own values when it comes to deciding what's going to happen to your kids' school.
Related Posts:
Bush Wants to Fund Religious Schools with Your Tax Money
Extending the Privilege of Preschool
LGBT "Magnet" Schools: Hurt or Help?
