Schools lose in White House race

Columnist Mike Baker wrote about the relative absence of education as an issue in the US presidential election.

As usual we asked for your thoughts too. Here is a selection:

The US education system offers an interesting contrast with that of the UK: while in England the main teaching unions attack the centralised curriculum and testing, in the US organisations such as the American Federation of Teachers have championed moves towards additional testing and rigorous curriculum standards.

It is perhaps ironic that as the English curriculum moves away from specific content standards - thanks in no small part because of the outcomes-oriented prejudices of Ken Boston at the QCA, policy in the United States has headed in the exact opposite direction.
Keith, London, UK

Paul Johnson in his book exposed the myth that education would raise standards for everyone as a former US president claimed - no new jobs are created so more universal education just leads to increased competition. Like students of Physics and chemistry its better to pay 100 students who will have the potential and creativity to get firsts then 1000 average students who will find no jobs to absorb them
MEL, Stratford

Many people in the USA are tired of the candidates and their trivia. No one appears to be addressing the major concerns of the country.
Ann Courtney, ex-pat Brit, USA

I could not agree more that the lack of affordable higher education is an issue in the United States--especially in states like Minnesota (where I was raised) where in-state tuition rates top $15,000 so no matter where you go you pay too much (in state and out of state). Despite academic scholarships that covered part of my tuition, and working two jobs while in school, I graduated from college about $50,000 in debt. I can't even afford now to buy food and pay rent (with a roommate) at the same time while making my loan payments, and that's just at the lowest (limited time) interest only payments. God help me when the payments go up.
Aliya, Washington, D.C., United States of America

The problem with lack of indepth debate on education policies is not just limited to the American presidential nomination race sphere. The sad truth is that education rarely makes it to the top of political agendas in many governments around the world. ... Despite quality education being the key building block to sustainable development, and possibly one of the most, if not THE most important issue in every community - education will likely be pushed to the back row because it just can't compete with every other issue. Maybe the solution is for people to start making louder demands on education. This coupled with a few endorsements and advocacy campaigns with high profiled celebrities/business persons/politicians might get the ball rolling on a debate which has been neglected for far too long.
Pudthila, Bangkok, Thailand

These are all important issues and I am glad someone is outlining them, however, I wish that it was American news doing so. We as a country and as a voter don't forsee the running of our country as a business of progression any longer, but rather as a debate of voter morality and personal greed. It would be most pleasant if we could tackle current issues and plan for the future but the American people need to overlook thier own personal greed for community advancement first. Thomas Jefferson was a man who recognized diversity, humanity and the values of education. These are all perspectives that the general public have lost or changed within ourselves.
Sean, Durham, NC

Likely one of the main reasons that education isn't high on the menu is that the contested voters in the primaries are more concerned about immediate economic problems than long-term economic investment.

Education is primarily a state-level function, and the last major federal intervention (No Child Left Behind) appears to be a well-intentioned but poorly executed failure, so politics at the national level may stay away from it for a while.
A Kay, Portland (OR), US

The candidates are afraid of offending teachers and losing their votes---or worse yet, offending parents and losing theirs. So we are told how wonderful everything is and how all we need is more, more, more of American greatness. Decadence, here we come!
Patricia Emison, Lee, New Hampshire USA

It was refreshing to read this article. As I understand it, American citizens are very concerned about education and are concerned that this topic is being reduced to merely notes in the margins of political speeches - as are our children's futures. It is not a hot topic because there are have been so many lies and misrepresentations of the "real" story I'm sure no politician can adequately address this issue. Political mandates have placed a heavy thumb on a system that works with children, not product. The Bush Administration has completely eradicated any common sense or sense of decency in our educational systems. Our best hope is that we can salvage the class of 2020 (they have only known this country to be at war), and hope they learn that education is not about competition, but about progress through understanding, working together, and creating a better world for all people.
Cheryl Saliwanchik-Brown, Ed.D, Orono, Maine, US

No one needs to tell me that education is a serious problem in the US. The Bush administration, with a combination of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) and vouchers, has all but destroyed public education, but no one seems to have noticed! I attended a conference once, where the Secretary of Ed described what a marvelous piece of double-speak the name "No Child Left Behind" represented because who could possibly argue with it even when it included meager funding and unrealistic demands. In fact, the only people profiting from NCLB are the textbook manufacturers. ... Interestingly, most schools using vouchers, and private schools, are not even held accountable to the same indicators of "success." Because they charge for their services (and receive money from vouchers) they are not trapped in the same cycle and are able to provide a quality education which addresses critical thinking, creativity, and higher order thinking skills. Many of the students in these religious or private schools are there because their parents are highly involved in their education. They recognize and demand a high quality of education and started those "savings plans" when their children were born. In public schools you will often find students who are economically disadvantaged, culturally diverse, and often not English language proficient. These are the parents who cannot afford those "savings plans" for colleges and their children will struggle to even afford $9000.00 per year. Is it any wonder they "opt out" and drop out of high school at such an alarming rate when they see little hope of ever financing their higher education? ... Mello, Tohatchi, NM/ USA

Perhaps the UK can learn from America's mistakes. Education is free up to A level and University should continue that by being free, especially for the brightest. These people in America pay for their education and we're heading the same way.
Sara Daintree, Manchester, UK

The problem with American education is not the schools. I believe that the real problem is with the American youth themselves that in turn are a product of a debased culture. It is not surprising that products of such a culture do poorly as far as education goes. I do not advocate a hell-fire religiously based culture to solve the problem. I do not know what the answer is.
Robert Kenna, Brightwaters US

My observation is that the drop-out rate in the US is more a cultural than an economic factor. Large sections of the population seem not to value education and do not encourage their children to pursue it beyond the legal requirements for school attendance. In the city in which I live, fewer than 70% of students graduate from high school. Until this mind set changes, it isn't going to matter how affordable higher education is or how much money is pumped into the educational system.
Sandy, US

Public education is substandard in this country because of the teachers' unions. Any meaningful change involves breaking their ironclad monopoly. But the teachers' unions are huge contributors to the Democrats, and neither Hillary nor Obama dare criticize their paymasters. Let alone confront them if elected. Expect no improvement in schools from either.
John Outwater, Cambridge, MA, USA

This is a very frustrating topic for me as a parent of three. My oldest son (12) in the 6th grade is constantly struggling under the current "process". My daughter seems to have an easier go at it although only in the third grade. I am researching charter schools and other options but for the average American, especially those outside of metropolitan areas, the choices are quite limited...
S Brown, Idaho USA