State of South Carolina Archives: on Education


Joe Biden: Your zip code shouldn't matter in access to a good education

The public school system in the country is in trouble. Delaware did one thing that other states should be doing. Delaware said that every school is required to have a minimum amount of money, no matter what their tax base is. That began to change the question of where the teachers are and where good teachers are. One of the things we have to do is, we have to provide opportunities. It shouldn't matter what zip code you're in whether or not you have access to a good education.

Education is going to be the bellwether in the 21st century. The idea you can make it in the middle class and sustain yourself there with just 12 years of education is not accurate, whether you need a trade and/or you have to go beyond that. We should change the way we educate our people. For example, why is it in every school, why isn't programming part of the science curricula that satisfies your science requirement?

Source: CNN S.C. Town Hall on eve of 2020 primary Feb 26, 2020

Mike Bloomberg: Charter schools worked in NYC, but not everywhere

Q: A key element of your response to failing schools in New York City was a dramatic increase in public charter schools. As president, would you pursue that same strategy nationwide?

BLOOMBERG: I'm not sure they're appropriate every place. In New York City, they provided parents with an alternative. The charter schools are mixed in with the non-charter public schools, because our charter schools are public schools, as well. They've helped each other.

Q: Has it worked in NYC?

BLOOMBERG: When I came into office, zero NYC schools were in the top 25 of the state. When I left, 23 out of 25 were from NYC. We've cut the gap between the rich and the poor. We've made an enormous difference in all of the options that parents have. I raised teacher salaries by 43%. I put an extra $5 billion into our school system. I value education. It is the only way to solve the poverty problem is to get people a good education. And rather than just talk about it in New York, we actually did it.

Source: 10th Democratic Primary debate on eve of S.C. primary Feb 25, 2020

Pete Buttigieg: Teachers shouldn't have to pay their own classroom expenses

The best thing that we can do to support public education is to support public educators. I'm a little biased, because I'm married to one. And I get an education about education every day I come home.

I have seen how teachers are expected to dip into their own pockets to furnish their classrooms. Teachers are being expected to handle the mental health challenges that their students are facing because we don't have an adequate mental health system to support kids.

And now some politicians, because they aren't willing to face the need for commonsense gun law, are expecting teachers to somehow transform themselves into highly trained armed guards when there's a threat to a classroom.

We have to show not only with compensation, but with support for the profession overall our regard for those who are educating our kids. And, yes, that means a secretary of education who will support teachers. It also means investing.

Source: 10th Democratic Primary debate on eve of S.C. primary Feb 25, 2020

Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Lower college costs, support student loan forgiveness

Source: 2020 S.C. Senate campaign website GloriaForUSSenate.com Feb 9, 2020

Jaime Harrison: Invest in public schools; end student loan crisis

Jaime believes in investing in South Carolina's schools and colleges, as well as our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Jaime will work to ensure that there are affordable educational opportunities for all students after graduation, whether that pathway is technical school, vocational training, or a college degree. Jaime will fight to end the student loan crisis in this country and make college affordable for anyone willing to work hard.
Source: 2020 S.C. Senate campaign website, JaimeHarrison.com Dec 12, 2019

James Emerson Smith: Put money and effort into making public schools work for all

James Smith will be an Education Governor who will prioritize recruiting and retaining great teachers, keep our children safe, pursue bold reforms, and advance modernization and innovation to transform our education system so that all students are prepared for the 21st century. The amount of funding a school receives should not be determined by its geographic location but rather by its need. James will work with the legislature and school leaders to develop a system that is equitable for all.
Source: 2018 S.C. gubernatorial candidate website JamesSmith.com May 2, 2018

Henry McMaster: Early education is the beginning of economic health

2009: Stood up for childhood education: Protected the people's vital interests in the critical education case in Clarendon County, which confirmed the necessity of early childhood education as the beginning of economic health and prosperity.
Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com Jan 11, 2017

Brad Hutto: Keep state leaders focused like a laser beam on our schools

Brad understands how important education is to improving the lives of South Carolinians. He will fight to ensure South Carolina gets its fair share of national funding and help keep state leaders focused like a laser beam on our schools. He knows that without a properly educated and trained work force, businesses looking to relocate will simply go someplace else.
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, BradHutto.com Jun 25, 2014

Joyce Dickerson: Invest in quality public education

Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website JoyceDickersonSC.com May 15, 2014

Nikki Haley: Make a real investment in our charter schools

Every child in South Carolina learns differently, some more so than others. It is our responsibility as the leadership of this state to embrace that reality, not fight it, and give all of our children the chance to learn, to grow, and to thrive. And so the time to make a real investment in our charter schools has come--and our budget does just that. Charters are innovators--we need those fresh insights and ideas to help us improve our educational system for all of South Carolina's children.
Source: 2012 S.C. State of the State Address Jan 18, 2012

Jim DeMint: Devolve education to states without abolishing Department

Q: Sharron Angle wants to get rid of the Department of Education, is that a good idea?

DEMINT: I agree that we need to devolve a lot of power out of Washington.

Q; Getting rid of it completely, is that a good idea? No more Department of Education?

DEMINT: I can see a role of looking at best practices around the state. But the fact is pretty clear, since the federal government increased its involvement in the '60s, the quality of our education relative to the rest of the world has declined. And we spend more per student than any other country in the world. So I've introduced a bill to devolve a lot of power from the federal government back to the states.

Q: But that's not the same as abolishing it. A lot of money comes from the federal government.

DEMINT: Well, she's very bold to say it. The fact is, education would probably work a lot better without the Department of Education. You can do it in a common-sense, reasonable way that doesn't disrupt any of the activities that we support

Source: CNN "State of the Union" coverage: 2010 S.C. Senate debate Sep 19, 2010

Mark Sanford: Endorses teacher-led prayer & displaying Ten Commandments

Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2002

  • The above quotations are from State of South Carolina Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Education.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Education:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021