Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Freedom of Education: Huckabee vs. Ron Paul?

Does Huckabee or does Ron Paul really stand for freedom of education? The Cato Institute's discussion of Huckabee as a big government conservative, featured on Fox News and reprinted here, gives us a good idea of which one of these two candidates really supports the rights of parents to make their own school choices. As the article points out, Huckabee is oriented to spending on public education:

"Because he believes that "art and music are as important as math and science" in public schools, he wants these programs funded -- and thus, directed and administered -- federally. Huckabee is, incidentally, the only Republican candidate for president who opposes school choice. Huckabee has called for increased federal spending on a variety of programs from infrastructure to health care."

In contrast to Huckabee is Ron Paul, who is a signatory for the Alliance for the Separation of School and State's Public Proclamation: "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education." (You may sign it too, if you wish, by going to http://www.schoolandstate.org/signproclamation.htm)

What's wrong with government involvement in education is that "money for schools" comes from taxes, and increasingly we are seeing taxation without real representation. Legislation that affects schools is often whisked through state and federal governments before parents and communities have a chance to see what's happening.

The money that was given to schools under the No Child Left Behind Act was given under the presumption that local and state schools could no longer manage their own affairs. Increasing federal control means reducing local control, and reducing local control means less parental involvement and a weakening of the bonds of schools to neighborhood and community.

Consolidation and centralization of schools is carried out in the name of rescuing supposedly "failing" schools, or, as in the case of Huckabee's plans in the name of providing more "arts and music" for the students. In a similar case two days ago in Birmingham, Alabama, it was suddenly announced that 18 local elementary schools were to close in order to provide more "arts and music" in a consolidated setting for their students. Members of the Birmingham City Council, as well as concerned citizens not only asked for "more transparency" from the local and state boards of education, but were obviously angry at a decision that, as Ronald Jackson, head of Birmingham's Citizens for Better Schools, stated: "...benefits no one...but the banks." (Birmingham News, Wednesday December 12, 2007)

In order to protect our right to send our children to the school of our choice, as well as our right as a parent to influence and be involved in our child's education,
we must not be dazzled by government promises to put more money into schools. How much time does the government need to prove that increased centralization improves the learning process? Our government has had 150 years to prove its point, and studies have definitively shown that parental involvement, local control and coherent communities are the key to better education. Please join Ron Paul in signing the Alliance for the Separation of School and State's proclamation, and please join me in voting for Ron Paul, a candidate who will really protect freedom of education.

Fox News on Huckabee

There is an article on Foxnews talking about how Huckabee is a big government conservative.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316496,00.html

One statement really jumped out at me:

"Huckabee is, incidentally, the only Republican candidate for president who opposes school choice."

I guess that is why Huckabee got an NEA Endorsement from NH.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

NEA to Endorse Huckabee!

Today the NEA announced that it will endorse Clinton on the Democratic side, and Huckabee on the Republican side.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/05/497082.aspx

Keep in mind that that the NEA has said things like:
"Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs
Schools With Good Teachers Are Best-Suited to Shape Young Minds"
http://www.nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html

and

"We know that parental involvement is imperative for school achievement, but delegates were concerned that home schools were not required to use state-approved curricula. They agreed that homeschooled students have done well on national tests and were the top spellers in the National Spelling Bee two years ago, but felt home school instruction should meet certain state education standards."
http://www.nhen.org/media/default.asp?id=261

and issued a resolution:

"Home Schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used."

Etc., Etc.,

I think Huckabee was chosen on the Republican side despite his past support of Homeschooling because of his strong support for NCLB, further nationalization of Education, and opposition to school vouchers. And since he was the first governor to sign into law a restriction on Homeschooling, they must know that when push comes to shove, he’ll be willing to sacrifice his support of Homeschooling if need be.
http://www.hslda.org/courtreport/v15n3/V15N3AR.asp?PrinterFriendly=True