For Gore and Bush, education a top priority

In the second installment of the Herald's issue-by-issue analysis of the 2000 Presidential election, Sterling Professor of Psychology and Director of the Yale Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy Edward Zigler analyzes the differences between the two candidates' stances on education.

COURTESY YALE UNIVERSITY Edward Zigler, Director of the Yale Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy, compared the candidates' education policies.

Yale Herald: What are the basic differences between the two platforms?

Edward Zigler: I think they're markedly different. The principal components of Gore's platform are 100,000 new teachers and universal preschool education, and both have talked about continuing to improve technology in schools. The heart of [George W.] Bush's [DC '68] proposal is turning Head Start into a reading program, and transferring it into the Department of Education. What he's really saying—because the Department of Education doesn't really run programs—is that he will give control to the states.

YH: How have Bush and Gore deviated from the traditional Republican and Democratic stances on education?

EZ: In the past, no Republican has ever adopted a Bush-type plan for Head Start, which, again, makes the program the responsibility of the states. He calls today's Head Start program a social program, and I don't really know what he means by that. The Democrats have made the jump from Head Start to a universal education program, so that's a huge step forward for them.

YH: Compared to past Republican platforms, Bush has allotted a significant amount of new spending toward schools. Which platform actually devotes more dollars to education?

EZ: Unless universal preschool education turns out to be cheap, then Gore will be putting more money than Bush into education.

YH: How does each plan attempt to improve schooling for the most poorly educated children?

EZ: Well, they've both talked about setting standards, with Bush wanting more frequent testing than Gore. So they're both interested in standards, but tests are not the solution. What they will discover is that once kids fail a class and get held back a grade, they will find more and more poor kids simply dropping out of school. Statistics have shown that if you're held back one year, your chances of dropping out are larger. So the solution to education isn't testing accountability—you have to have a plan that gives students the teaching and training to help [them] pass those tests. Neither one of them wants to talk about this, because neither one wants to talk about the fact that the ability of the federal government to really impact the way our schools are governed is very limited.

YH: Do you think an increased federal role in education could actually hurt schools?

EZ: Presently governments pay seven percent of the cost of education across the country, and the rest of this money comes from state and local governments. When you're only paying seven percent, you don't get to call the shots. In this country, we have 80,000 schools and 16,000 school districts, so with a service like education, it's very hard to make something happen nationwide. Neither candidate should act as if they will have a significant impact, because they will not.

YH: Does Governor Bush have as strong an education record in Texas as he claims?

EZ: No, he does not. Many of the reforms he praises were brought about by previous governments. You can't have it both ways—smart government, smaller expenses, less and less taxes—and still spend more money in the schools and control them the way he would like to.

YH: What has Gore actually done in his vice presidency to improve education?

EZ: Well, he's certainly done a lot with trying to improve technology and computer usage. But it's difficult to measure just how much impact that's had. Basically, presidents and vice presidents have much less influence than governors. Governors have a big say on education. What they want and what they can use is the bully pulpit. Clinton used it, for example, to support more money for Head Start, which it needs. Bush does not support more money for Head Start. Gore also will create agencies that will make Head Start accountable.

YH: What are your opinions on the debate between the two candidates?

EZ: Well, I am delighted that both platforms are emphasizing education, but it goes beyond the two campaigns. Education and education reform may now become the number one issue in the long run. People can argue about what the appropriate solutions are, but people are worried about education and thinking about education, especially for [poorer students]. So on the balance I'm pleased with the level of debate.

YH: What are their opinions on charter schools?

EZ: Both are in favor of charter schools. There's no real difference between them. But the stuff on charter schools is mostly anecdotal. The charter movement is still too new. Everyone loves charter schools—there's a chance for innovation in public education, the only difference being that you don't have to play by the undemocratic rules of your school system.

See the first installment of this series.

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