Gore Stumps In Iowa With Focus On Education Themes
Vice President Al Gore has outlined an education plan that bears striking similarities to President Clinton’s vision for teacher quality. In a commencement speech at Graceland College in Iowa, Gore emphasized the need for an increased number of teachers, more frequent licensing exams, and stricter disciplinary measures in schools. He emphasized the importance of raising the standards for teachers and providing them with comprehensive support, rooted in respect, honor, and appreciation.
This speech provided a glimpse into Gore’s candidacy during a period when his campaign has faced criticism for lacking focus. During a visit to Graceland College as part of a two-day tour of Iowa, he also opened a campaign office in Des Moines. While he has not officially announced his candidacy for the 2000 Democratic nomination, Gore has been involved in various education-related events in recent weeks. He has publicly announced recipients of federal after-school grants, unveiled school improvement funding for California, and introduced the Boost4kids initiative, which aims to streamline bureaucracy and collaborate with community organizations to improve health and education services for underprivileged children. Additionally, he sparked controversy when he shared the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress earlier this year. On May 17, Gore visited Charlestown High School in Massachusetts to further discuss his ideas.
One key aspect of Gore’s proposal is the implementation of stringent testing requirements for prospective and practicing teachers. Under his plan, new teachers would need to pass rigorous exams to enter the profession and would be required to renew their licenses every five years through further testing. These ideas align closely with President Clinton’s proposals and plans put forward by certain congressional Republicans, who intend to release their own teacher-quality legislation later this month. Teacher quality and training will also be integral to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year. In Iowa, Gore introduced the idea of a "21st Century Teacher Corps" program. This program would provide aspiring teachers with a $10,000 scholarship or bonus if they were transitioning from another career or committed to teaching in underserved schools.
Gore’s plan received immediate criticism from Lamar Alexander, the former Secretary of Education under the Bush administration and current Republican presidential nominee. Alexander labeled Gore’s proposals as effectively establishing a national school board and advocated for the return of federal funds to local school boards, parents, and teachers to empower them to make decisions in the best interest of their students. However, the American Federation of Teachers applauded Gore’s education agenda. Sandra Feldman, the president of the 1 million-member AFT, commended Gore for recognizing the challenging nature of the teaching profession and the crucial role teachers play in shaping America’s future. Feldman believes that Gore’s proposals build upon the progress made in schools that have already implemented high standards and professional support.
In addition to teacher quality, Gore called for increased discipline and character education in schools, smaller class sizes and high schools, expanded tax-exempt savings accounts for college tuition, and access to high-quality preschool for all children.
