Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

Over the past two weeks several more candidates have released major education proposals with recommendations on standards, teacher quality, or more time and support for students. One specifically pegged education as critical to America's economic health and global competitiveness.

Last Tuesday at the CNBC/MSNBC/Wall Street Journal forum on economic issues, two candidates talked about K-12 schools with no prompting from the moderators. One candidate even said that the biggest long-term economic problem America faces is inadequate K-12 education. As the headline in Education Daily put it, "GOP frontrunners say K-12 ‘biggest economic problem'."


These are all very important signs of progress, and candidates should be applauded for doing what's right for students and right for America. The evidence is very clear that national leaders must strengthen America's schools to grow the economy and ensure our students can compete. Click here for a new fact sheet called "Education: The Engine for Jobs."


But at this point it's not just about doing right. It's also about being smart. Last Wednesday the Partnership for 21st Century Skills released the results of a new poll revealing that registered voters are deeply concerned that schools are not preparing young people with the skills they need to compete in the global economy.


The press release is worth quoting at length:

"This is a powerful set of data from American voters that we need to expand what our schools are teaching to keep pace with the demands of our modern workforce," said Bill McInturff, Public Opinion Strategies. "This poll also reveals the strong connection Americans make between our future economic success and our education system, a conversation that currently is not happening among our elected officials."

There you have it: Voters get it. And they want to hear what candidates have to say about it.


It's a truism that politicians are often forced to choose between doing what's right and doing what's convenient. Well not this time. When it comes to education and the economy, presidential candidates can serve their country's interests and their own political interests all at the same time.


When will the rest of the candidates take a bite?


--- Guest Blogger Craig Jerald