Mason Galeazzo
Per.3
9/25/10
Education funding and reform
For our country to grow and compete worldwide, instead of just buying and out sourcing all our jobs, we need to increase our country’s education. The views of both the democrats and republicans are important and both took stances about education. According to several sources Democrats seem to be pro-education and are trying to endorse public school funding and slow government backing of private schools. Republicans are trying to limit the role of national government in education in fear that with extra funding it will require the states to put out more and they promote home schooling along with school choice.
When contrasting Republicans vs. Democrats in the education spectrum it is hard to find a stern or fundamental side between the two. While Republicans loathe government interference in education they have also been slowly restricting its access to local schools since the Reagan and Bush administrations dealt with the financial issues of America during the late 80s and through the 90s. The Republican Party has always wanted the same thing when it comes to education though, they wouldn’t mind education aid from the government IF the aid didn’t take away the power and control from the local school districts and the ability to do what they believe is right for their children. Republicans also believe in the public display of religion through students who volunteer to lead prays during school and tried to pass legislature for this in both 2000 and 2004. Republicans are very strongly against funding for public education due to the recession and believe more debt will accumulate if the government aids the educational system of America.
While the Republicans loathe government interference in schools Democrats believe they need more aid for schools and it’s the government’s obligation to help the education of all Americans. The Democratic Party’s top priority over the last 20 years, since the 1990s, has been on the education of Americans. They believe contrary to Republicans that without the help of financial aid from the government America will fall greatly behind in the education of its citizens through the poor standards and education teachings of different school systems. Democrats also, contrary to Republicans who approve of students taking initiative in volunteer praying at schools, Democrats uphold the belief of separation of church and state and are against public presentation of religion. Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson was one of the strongest supporter of the education system ever to take the white house and pressed many legislatures and bills through congress with democratic help to help education on a elementary level by aiding elementary schools and secondary school education. ““The Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963, also known as the Morse-Green bill after Senator Morse and Representative Edith Green, also an Oregon Democrat. The purpose of the act, signed by Johnson on December 16, 1963, was to help colleges construct facilities. Green, like Morse, was a tireless and innovative advocate for education, earning herself the title "the mother of higher education.”” Democrats have a long history of supporting education rights for all Americans and many bills passed by them helped millions of poor people and gave different races equal rights to education in the 1960-70s.
The distinct and now obvious difference between the Democrats and Republicans are the party’s strong stances on the education issue of America. While Democrats try to advance and help education prosper with aid from the government, Republicans try to stop all form of aid of the government and undermine citizens rights to equal education in fear that the aid will undermine the state’s power and control over the educational system. (A belief I think is ill-needed and is another way to dumb America down, while trying to maintain power)
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PS: 2010 issues are Amazingly hard to find. I guess Obama's 2010 education speech didn't make any noise in the parties.. ):
