It Takes A Village, by Hillary Clinton: on Education
Character education: teach empathy & self-discipline
A number of schools around the country are incorporating the teaching of empathy & self-discipline--what social theorists call “character education”--into their curricula. In New Haven CT, a social development approach is integrated into every public
school child’s daily routine. Children learn techniques for developing & enhancing social skills, identifying & managing emotions like anger, and solving problems creatively. The program appears to raise grades as well as to improve behavior.
Source: It Takes A Village, by Hillary Clinton, p. 55-56
Sep 25, 1996
Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction
To bring reason & clarity to this often contentious issue, my husband’s administration developed a statement of principles concerning permissible religious activities in the public schools. The complete guidelines include:- Students may participate
in prayer during the school day, as long as they do so in a non-disruptive manner and when they are not engaged in school activities.
- Schools should open their facilities to student religious organizations on the same terms as other groups.
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Students should be free to express their beliefs about religion in school assignments.
- Schools may not provide religious instruction, but they may teach about the Bible, civic values and virtue, and moral codes, as long as they remain neutral with
respect to the promotion of any particular religion.
This last point is particularly important, [because religious institutions, parents, & schools share] the responsibility of helping children to develop moral values and a social conscience.
Source: It Takes A Village, by Hillary Clinton, p.162-163
Sep 25, 1996
Supports Goals 2000: hardly the stuff of revolution
As soon as Goals 2000 passed, it was attacked by extremists, who stirred up anxious parents with visions of totalitarian control over their children’s minds and of “secular humanists” stealing their children’s souls. What are these goals that promote suc
reactions: By 2000- All children in America will start school ready to learn
- High school graduation rates will increase to at least 90%
- All students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter
- US students will be first in the world in science & math
- Every adult will be literate and will possess the skills necessary to compete in a global economy
- Every school will be free of drugs & violence
- Teachers will have access to continuing
education
- Every school will promote partnerships with parents.
These goals are hardly the stuff of revolution and are not likely to be fully achieved by 2000, We cannot expect to reverse decades of declining standards in a few years.
Source: It Takes A Village, by Hillary Clinton, p.242-243
Sep 25, 1996
Supports public school choice and charter schools
Some critics of public schools urge greater competition among schools as a way of returning control from bureaucrats to parents and teachers. I find their argument persuasive and I favor promoting choice among public schools, much as the President’s
Charter Schools Initiative encourages. Charter schools are public schools created and operated under a charter. They may be organized by parents, teachers, or others. The idea is that they should be freed from regulations that stifle innovation,
so they can focus on getting results. By 1995, 19 states had enacted charter school laws about 200 schools have been granted charters.
The Improving America’s Schools Act, passed in October 1994 with the President’s support, provided federal funds
for a wide range of reforms, including launching charter schools. Federal funding is needed to break through bureaucratic attitudes that block change and frustrate students and parents, driving some to leave public schools.
Source: It Takes A Village, by Hillary Clinton, p.244-245
Sep 25, 1996
Early education affects things from IQ to lifelong earnings
New research in childhood development establishes that a child’s environment affects everything from IW to future behavior patterns. These studies confirm the importance of breast-feeding infants, of setting aside time for family meals, and of empowering
parents to shield their children from predatory marketing and the violent and sexually explicit media that contribute to aggressive behavior, early sexual experimentation, obesity, and depression.
The case for quality early childhood education and programs like Head Start is stronger than ever, and we should expand them. According to a study conducted by Federal Reserve economist Rob Grunewald and conducted by
Nobel laureate economist James Heckman, high-quality preschool programs are among the most cost-effective public investments we make, lowering dependency and raising lifetime earnings.
Source: 2006 intro to It Takes A Village, by H. Clinton, p. xviii
Dec 12, 2006
2001: Proposed and passed National Teacher Corps
The standards and accountability movement has grown dramatically over the last decade. The No Child Left Behind Act became law, and it has laid bare the problems in many of our poorest, worst-performing schools.
We can no longer say that we didn’t know that these schools were failing some of our most vulnerable kids. To improve the quality of education, we need to improve instruction in the classroom.
Nationwide, two million teachers will leave teaching over the next decade. NYC already loses 30% more math teachers and 22% more science teachers than it certifies every year. IN 2001, I proposed the
National Teacher Corps, which brings teachers into the classroom, and a new initiative that would provide more schools with strong principals. Both became law.
Source: 2006 intro to It Takes A Village, by H. Clinton, p.304-305
Dec 12, 2006
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2019