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Bush's Education Prescription: Prudence Over Action
| Article
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18292 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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| Issue
Date : |
10 / 1990 |
2,659 Words |
| Author
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Jeanne Allen
Jeanne Allen is president of the Washington, D.C.-based
Center for Education Reform, a national clearinghouse
dedicated to improving schools. |
Public education is at a crisis point, and its failure to educate children is reaching epidemic proportions. But while public schools in cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia graduate children who cannot read and write, the same cities are home to private schools that educate poor, low-income minorities and send them off to college in droves. Private schools succeed in their mission, at a fraction of what it costs in public schools.
Such stark realities have led many to conclude that the educational system, not the people, is to blame. The system is sorely in need of structural repair.
During the 1980s, many changes were adopted to reverse the decline of public education: States raised graduation requirements and teacher salaries, reduced class sizes, and increased testing. This tinkering, typically backed by teacher unions, failed to arrest the decline. Only one reform can claim any success - educational choice. Choice has raised graduation rates and spurred schools to raise academic standards. Competition provides incentives for schools to attract students to stay in business and allows children to go elsewhere if they are not happy with their assigned school.
While many cities and states are adopting such a radical alternative, the Bush administration has adopted a policy of prudence, preferring to talk generally about education reform rather than commit itself to one real solution. There is a cautious tone to every plan, act, and speech.
Educational choice is President Bush's litmus test. Both Bush and his education secretary, Lauro Cavazos, have declared choice the cornerstone of their administration. But Cavazos has not mentioned choice in a speech since last November. His department appointed special advisers to focus on teacher education, dropouts, and Indian education. No such special adviser has been appointed to work on the choice issue. Meanwhile, choice is fast gaining ground in the states. And reformers are playing out the choice battle on their home fields, far away from Washington, where they are more likely to gain support and influence legislation.
The new strategy for making the states the battleground for education reform is proving more successful than fighting it out in Congress. Although many conservatives were dismayed by the Reagan administration's failure to fulfill campaign promises of implementing vouchers and tuition tax credits, most now recognize that moving the education debate back
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