Colin Powell on Education Secretary of State (Pres. Bush Cabinet)

Promise Four: Marketable skills through effective education

Employers increasingly need workers who can think, learn new skills rapidly, work in teams, and solve problems creatively. Yet too few youth-whether college bound or not- have these qualities or, in many cases, even basic work skills. Among the necessary skills are:
• A foundation in basic skills, such as reading, writing, mathematics, science, technology, and communication.
• Thinking skills, such as creativity, decision making, problem solving, and reasoning.
• Personal attitudes and qualities, such as integrity, responsibility, and self-motivation.

Believes in prayer, but not mandated in schools

"The church," says Powell, "can play a very valuable role by teaching the difference between right and wrong, by teaching people to treasure other people. And frankly, the Ten Commandments is about the best value system you could come up with."

Junior ROTC is a social bargain; expand it in high schools

We continued to meet resistance in certain urban areas. Liberal school administrators and teachers claimed that we were trying to “militarize” education. Yes, I’ll admit, the armed forces might get a youngster more inclined to enlist as a result of Junior ROTC. But society got a far greater payoff. Inner-city kids, many from broken homes, found stability and role models in Junior ROTC. They got a taste of discipline, the work ethic, and they experienced pride of membership in something healthier than a gang. Until 1993, there were still no Junior ROTC programs in any public school in New York City. Seven NYC schools presently have programs. The program can provide a fresh start for thousands of kids, particularly those from minorities living in crime-plagued ghettos. Junior ROTC is a social bargain.

Supports charter schools, vouchers, home schools

Let’s not be afraid of standardized testing for students. Let’s not be afraid of testing teachers’ qualifications. Let’s not be afraid of charter schools. Let’s not be afraid of using private scholarship money to give poor parents a choice that wealthy parents have. Let’s not be afraid of home schooling. Let’s experiment prudently with school voucher programs to see if they help. What are we afraid of? Let’s use innovation and competition, good old American innovation, good old American competition to help give our children the best education possible.

Gov. Bush now offers the leadership [in education] that he has demonstrated in Texas to the nation. In pursuing education reform, Gov. Bush has reached out to all Texans -- white, black, Latino, Asian, Native American.