Now that the primary season has ended and both major political parties have their presumptive nominees, the pundits are articulating what key issues will dominate the fall elections. The war in Iraq, the economy, energy policies, and health care are mentioned most often and appear to be pivotal issues for the candidates.  If the media and those who structure the presidential debates continue to focus primarily on these issues, they will be the chief issues addressed by the candidates in the coming months. Hopefully, they won’t be the only ones talked about, but we should be prepared to have to look hard and listen carefully to determine where Senators McCain and Obama stand on key education issues beyond the usual party rhetoric.

On the rare occasion that education is mentioned by the media or by either candidate, it is lumped into some nebulous idiom that schools are “in crisis” and “need fixing.” Indeed, there are many schools nationwide that need our attention and targeted intervention if they are to be successful for their students. Policymakers and practitioners are working hard on strategies and solutions to these problems every day. Yet the challenges to 21st century education policies are greater than simply addressing the problems in low performing schools. These challenges are so much more complex than sound bites can suggest, and they are directly related to the issues that are front and center in this campaign.

The next President of the United States should tell us what he believes is the role of the federal government in education policy. What are his views on national or common standards? What does he believe about what students need to know and be able to do? With so much focus on math and reading, what are his views on the importance of teaching civics, geography, American and world history to promote an understanding of the complexities of the Middle East and the role this nation plays in its policies? The absence of a meaningful discussion by some policy leaders on the usefulness of teaching our students a second language to better position them to compete in a global economy is an impediment to clearly defining a 21st century education. Where do the candidates stand on this?

What we teach our students about what they eat, how they protect their bodies and how they maintain overall good health impacts the cost of health care and the availability of affordable insurance for all Americans. If our schools had more structured and inclusive instruction to promote financial literacy, would foreclosures in the housing market, the rate of savings in the US and other personal financial decision making net the same results we see today?  What about technology, environmental education, high school redesign, career and technical education and articulation with secondary education? Education issues are not simple and not easily addressed in a few questions or the anticipated responses and lay policy leaders should not accept second class status in the 2008 elections. Education is a state responsibility, but the importance of the president’s vision and the federal role cannot be underestimated or ignored.

In the coming months there will be efforts from all interests to influence the candidates. Those who care about education cannot abandon the issue because the other concerns appear more significant in challenging times. Education is a central issue for the United States today and how it is addressed and delivered in the coming years will influence all the issues of tomorrow. Our president needs to demonstrate an understanding that education is at the core of every other issue this nation faces.

Brenda Lilienthal Welburn

Executive Director