Talk to Power: Sen. Cochran on the State of Education
Talk to Power continued…
Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers. Several topics were addressed. Today, the topic we are featuring is Senator Cochran’s view on The State of Education. Click here to read the previous topic, “No Child Left Behind.”
The State of Education
MS. WOODRUFF: All right, Senator, I’m going to move now to a different topic, a domestic topic, and this one is education.
This reader, visitor to the Web site, describes himself as a 22-year-old University of Mississippi graduate, who asked: “Our country has become very divided over certain issues, such as gay marriage and abortion. However, an issue that we all support - education - falls through the cracks. What do you think it would take to finally bring the parties together to create an effective plan to fix education in the United States, and do you think that partisanship can be overcome for that cause?”
SEN. COCHRAN: Well, I have a much more optimistic view about the future of education in the United States and maybe in the current state of education in our country.
First of all, most states assume the responsibility for running the school systems in those states, whether you’re talking about state universities. Public school systems throughout our country really are the primary responsibility of local school boards, local taxpayers who decide through their elected officials how much money goes into the school system, how big the budget is, how much teachers are paid. These are not questions that are answered in Washington. We don’t have a federal system for elementary and secondary education, for example. Further, we have private schools that are alternatives to the public education system that offer for some children another opportunity. So, it’s a very complex and not easily managed in a one-size-fits-all kind of system as you might have in some other countries.
And we have one of the most productive education systems in the world in terms of the number of people who are involved in higher education, students who go to college or who go into specialized training for vocations or specific job skills that are needed in the workplace. There’s so much diversity in America, it’s a wonder to me that we have the problems we have with some falling through the cracks and not taking advantage or getting to take advantage of all of our resources.
Being actively involved, as you are though, in that process is something that we should encourage everyone to do and take a more active role in the process, serve on a school board, be a teacher, be a tutor, be a good parent and help your children understand the values.
I was lucky my parents were both schoolteachers. My dad was a county superintendent of education. My mother was a mathematics teacher. We ended up having to do our homework in my house, and sometimes I didn’t like to, but we did it anyway. I wish everybody could have had that opportunity that I do, but some don’t, and we need to make sure that we reach out to everybody.
Next: LOBBYING REFORM, so Stay Tuned!
Click here to see video footage of Senator Cochran’s response. Also, click here to see the full article on Yahoo News!
Tags: education systems, judy woodruff, school systems, talk to power, The State of Education
