Harry B writes about McCain's education plans.
I don’t have that much more to say about McCain, except to point out that he doesn’t have much to say either. His answer to the education question was quite disappointing (and I’m not talking about his apparent confusion of Down syndrome with Autism, which is an easy mistake to make) but also quite revealing. McCain focused entirely on choice. This reveals that he doesn’t really have anything to say; something his website confirms.
This is the most comprehensive statement I can find of McCain’s education platform. It does not reveal a great deal of thought or anything very original. It’s basically a laundry list of boilerplate Republican issues, plus a few million dollars to invest in virtual schooling (as if the Feds need to do anything here: the market, the districts, and the States are moving ahead with this, and it is, if anything, regulation not money the Feds need to be providing).
I hope the edu-bloggers will link to this post, because it's really quite excellent.
Point 1 that really needs a lot more air time in the blogosphere. Vouchers aren't going any where. Anybody who talks about them really has no clue about the realities of the politics of education.
Point 2. It's all about virtual education. Have I talked about this on this blog? Can't remember. Anyway just look at what Bill Bennett has been talking about for the past five years. Not vouchers. It's virtual education. Homeschoolers like it. It's cheap. Computers don't ask for health benefits. So, anybody who doesn't want to give much to public education likes it. Rural educators of all political stripes like it.
Pay attention to this issue, people. This is next battle ground.