Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour: on Education


Bill Clinton: OpEd: "Goals 2000" came close to nationalizing education

The federal usurpation of state and local authority in the field of education continues. In 1994, for example, with the passage of a measure called "Goals 2000: Education for American Act," the Clinton administration came close to nationalizing American education. The proposed goals, which the Clinton administration insisted were voluntary, specify levels of "inputs" or resources local schools and school districts must meet in order to receive additional federal funding. In reality, of course, these goals are far from voluntary--if a state refuses to submit to the standards, it can lose federal dollars.

While Goals 2000 may have a high-sounding name redolent of academic excellence, it could in certain circumstances actually prevent a school from giving certain kinds of tough, scholastically oriented tests.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.128 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: Give parents vouchers so they can choose kids' schools

Republicans are pushing ideas like school choice through vouchers to assist the American family in paying for the educational services of their choice. The idea is simple: parents know best how to spend educational dollars on their children. Parents know how to judge a school without relying on stacks of reports from Washington. Another benefit of school choice is that it forces schools and teachers to compete for students.
Source: Agenda for America, by Gov. Haley Barbour, p.131 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: Supports charter schools as a means to local control

Charter schools encourage innovation and decentralization. Charter schools are government-funded schools that are created and operated by a group of qualified people. They enter into a contractual arrangement with the state or school system, and as long as they prove they are meeting their contractual agreement, they operate free from state and district supervision.
Source: Agenda for America, by Gov. Haley Barbour, p.135 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: Vouchers apply unlimited market forces to education

We need to empower parents to make choices and seize opportunities for their children's education. Ideas like school choice through vouchers or tax credits assist the American family in paying for the educational services of their choice. Vouchers & tax credits will be available to people of any tax bracket and will open up unlimited possibilities of market forces applied to education.

The idea behind school vouchers or tuition tax credits is simple. Parents know best how to spend educational dollars on their children. And parents know best how to choose a school that is appropriate for the needs and abilities of their children. Parents also know how to judge the quality of a school without having to reply on stacks of reports and conferences in Washington.

Another benefit of school choice is that it forces schools and teachers to compete for students. Competition will force them to keep improving their product, much the way businesses improve their products to compete for customers.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.131-132 Apr 25, 1996

Haley Barbour: School prayer restores moral awareness to our schools

On the issue of school prayer--or more accurately, voluntary prayer in public schools--most Americans want something done to restore religious expression and moral awareness to our schools. While the state or school must not dictate or prescribe any prayer, the right to voluntary prayer in schools should be protected, whether through a constitutional amendment or through legislation, or a combination of both.

The idea that most religious people are "radical," as they are all too often portrayed in the media, is wrong. The overwhelming majority are mainstream, not extreme. They should not be treated as second-class citizens who may practice their faith in private but never in the public square. People of faith--of all faiths--have played important roles in the progress of the country and the development of our culture. Indeed, our culture is based on traditional American values, derived from our Judeo-Christian heritage, handed down to us, generation after generation.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.159-160 Apr 25, 1996

Newt Gingrich: Constitutional amendment to protect right to school prayer

While the state or school must not dictate or prescribe any prayer, the right to voluntary prayer in schools should be protected, whether through a constitutional amendment or through legislation, or a combination of both. Indeed, Congressman Gingrich, in a speech just prior to becoming Speaker, endorsed both approaches: constitutional change and legislative trimming of the Court's jurisdiction over voluntary prayer in schools.

The idea that most religious people are "radical," as they are all too often portrayed in the media, is wrong. The overwhelming majority are mainstream, not extreme. They should not be treated as second-class citizens who may practice their faith in private but never in the public square. People of faith--of all faiths--have played important roles in the progress of the country and the development of our culture. Indeed, our culture is based on traditional American values, derived from our Judeo-Christian heritage, handed down to us, generation after generation.

Source: Agenda For America, by Haley Barbour, p.159-160 Apr 25, 1996

  • The above quotations are from The Agenda for America
    A Republican Direction for the Future
    by Gov. Haley Barbour (R, MS).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Education.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Haley Barbour on Education.
Candidates and political leaders on Education:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 12, 2018