Superintendent Picard Says LA Gubernatorial Candidates Have Done Their Homework on Early Education

Monroe (LA) News-Star ^ | 03-21-03 | Hasten, Mike

[Theodore R.]

BATON ROUGE - Six intended candidates for governor in this fall's election say they view education, particularly early childhood programs, as a major key to improving the state's future.

But they have differing opinions about vouchers, which would allow students currently enrolled in public schools to switch to private schools at public expense.

[Theodore R.]

Ironically, the decline in educational performance corresponds with the emphasis on "early childhood" education. Prior to 1966, few LA school children attended kindergarten. After kindergarten became widely available, then there was the call for "pre-K." It's all part of FUNDING schemes and milking the barefoot taxpayer for his last pair of socks.

[Kuksool]

{"Only in a sense of avoiding a possible disaster," Blanco said of the possibility of offering vouchers. Any school that accepts vouchers would have to accept the state's accountability program. }

Blanco doesn't seem to understand what vouchers are. She appears to think that vouchers are direct government funding to private schools. Which they are not. Vouchers are about enabling parents to determine the best education plan for their children. Parents don't need the government to tell them how to educate their kids. Blanco's view towards vouchers are worse than a poltician who is outright opposed to vouchers. I don't want the government and the NEA determine educational policies in private schools.

[Theodore R.]

Blanco could be the next governor because a recent poll showd that LA voters believe women to be "more honest" and "more compassionate" than men in the holding of public office.

However, the favorite must still be the candidate backed by LA's largest interest group, the NAACP, and that is Attorney General Ieyoub. Many think Ieyoub and Blanco will be the candidates in the "general election." Others think a conservative Democrat like Randy Ewing could take Blanco's spot. Hardly anyone believes that 7 self-destructive Republican candidates and intraparty rivals already dividing a minority base can end up in the general election.

So chalk up LA to another Democrat gubernatorial victory. However, in neighboring MS, the Republican prospects look much brighter, as the party has already coalsced behind a ticket of Haley Barbour for governor and Lt. Governor Amy Tuck, a former Democrat seeking reelection as a Republican.

In KY, the Democrat Ben Chandler, grandson of the legendary Baseball Commissioner Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler remains the man to beat. Republicans are destroying themselves among three or four candidates.