With the presidential election fast approaching, the candidates are clashing over an issue that will have a big impact on Saint Louis University students and the entire country. That issue is education.
Ken Warren, a professor of political science, believes that the education will overshadow many other issues this November. He said, “According to polls, [education] is a number one priority issue. With a more robust economy, issues like taxes just aren’t as major a concern.”
Despite the increased amount of attention, the positions of the Democratic candidate, Vice-President Al Gore, and the Republican candidate, Governor George W. Bush, won’t be making any waves. Rather, they will reflect the traditional values of their respective parties.
Warren observed, “Both of the candidates this year are taking classic Republican and Democratic positions. Gore backs more liberal spending programs, while Bush wants to emphasize local control.”
The rising price of higher education is causing both candidates to make proposals to ease the cost of college, especially for those with low incomes.
Bush wants to increase the amount of funding for Pell Grants, which award low income students with money for college. He also wants to expand Education Savings Accounts, tax-free savings accounts that must be used to pay for tuition, and to help states set up merit scholarships for college.
Gore supports making up to $10,000 of college tuition payments tax-deductible. In addition, he backs several programs which encourage people to save for education tax free. “I think that a $10,000 deduction is a pretty revolutionary proposal,” said John Burke, president of SLU’s chapter of Young Democrats. “It could help a lot of students here at SLU.”
Gore’s general education policy is guided by two main principles, investing more money in public schools and raising standards and accountability for schools. His spending proposals include making preschool available to any four year old child.
Gore also advocates a strong teacher-hiring initiative that would help to lower class sizes in grades one through three.
Burke said, “Gore wants to pump money back into public schools. States should also be holding schools accountable.”
Bush makes local and parental control over schooling a high priority in his campaign. He supports charter schools which allow parents to send their children to public schools that are built and run by private institutions such as businesses and universities.
Other candidates provide different education options. Reform party candidate Pat Buchanan advocates more conservative positions such as wide spread school choice and abolishing the Department of Education and giving its funding and functions to local authorities.
Green Party candidate Ralph Nader wants to shift the emphasis of school curriculums toward civic skills and history.
Warren cautioned students against expecting instant results, however. He said, “Promises are easy to make. In reality, however, candidates are going to find out, like [President Bill] Clinton did, that political realities will prevent them from keeping some promises.”
