THE 2000 presidential campaign has not been a cordial one. The candidates and their supporters have spent significant time and money trading insults and accusations. But whether you find their campaign methods amusing or insulting, with the election less than a month away, it's time to start focusing on the issues.
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Education is a significant issue this year and every four years. As students privileged to live in a community which places high value on education, we have a responsibility to concern ourselves with this issue. This responsibility is particularly pressing this year for several reasons.
High school standards are falling. It is easy to get a high school diploma, so the diploma means very little. A college degree has become essential. Jobs available 25 years ago to those with only a high school diploma now require some college education. Simultaneously, the cost of attending college is rising, making higher education less attainable for many middle- and lower-class families.
While both candidates claim to support education, and pledge to improve the education system if elected, Vice President Al Gore's position is much more solid.
In terms of college education, Gore's plan provides for more low-interest loans and tax-free bonds to defray the cost of higher education, be it college or skills training. Regarding the issue of the decline of the basic education system Gore supports revitalization, renewal and higher standards for students and teachers.
Gore has pledged that, "every failing school in this nation should be turned around ... we should have a fully-qualified, well-trained teacher in every single classroom ... every high school graduate [masters] the basics of reading and math" (Speech to National Conference of Black Mayors, Dallas, Texas, April 28).
While this rhetoric could be empty, it is backed up by a concrete, and conceivably effective plan. One of the key components to this plan is a national teacher testing program, which would ensure that those teaching are qualified to do so. In this measure, Gore has shown courage in going against the teachers' unions, who do not support testing for teachers already in the classroom. Gore's plan backs up teacher testing with a measure that would allow schools to hire and set salary based on ability rather than seniority.
In addition, Gore's plan calls for scholarships for college students pledging to teach in low-income schools, in order to raise the standards of public education in under-funded areas.
Gore's plan includes the evaluation of failing schools. If a school were unable to improve its condition after two years, it would be shut down and reopened under new leadership. While this may be difficult to do - shutting schools down creates all sorts of crowding problems in other schools - it is a pro-active step toward ensuring quality education.
Gore also supports exit exams for all high school seniors, ensuring that a high school diploma means something.
All of Gore's measures would take positive steps toward improving basic education in general, and America's public schools in particular.
Texas Gov. George W. Bush's plan, in contrast, seeks to undermine public education. While Bush supports concepts such as smaller classrooms, and pre-school, he abandons public education by supporting school vouchers.
School vouchers allow for public money to fund students' private school education. While this system is meant to foster competition among schools, and therefore promote improvement, it is very dangerous to the public school system. It takes public money away from the public schools, making it harder to implement improvements such as smaller classrooms and improved technology.
Additionally, the voucher system risks increasing the achievement gap. Public funds can only support so many vouchers, and for limited sums of money, while still supporting a public school system.
This means that lower-income families may not be able to afford private education, even with the aid of vouchers. This would leave members of the traditionally underachieving lower-class in public schools which would become increasingly under-funded as more money was poured into vouchers.
Public education is a cornerstone of American society and American democracy, and one of the founding principles of the University. If the public school system appears to be in trouble, the correct course of action is not to contribute to the problems, a la Bush, but to repair the system, as Gore has pledged to do. As students at the University we should value education, and exercise our right to defend it. This year the defense of education means a vote for Gore.
(Megan Moyer is a Cavalier Daily viewpoint writer.)
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