Contact: Brian Washington (202) 822-7823, bwashington@nea.org

June 29, 2007

NEA Pleased Presidential Debates
Finally Focus on Public Education

Washington -- "The critical issues facing America's public schools finally made an appearance in a national debate between Democratic presidential candidates in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night. Over half of the debate, moderated by Tavis Smiley and broadcast nationally by PBS, was given over to education issues.

"The challenges and opportunities facing public education got their first full airing by the Democratic candidates since the current presidential campaigns began," said Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association and a member of the audience at the debate. "American voters have consistently ranked public education as their greatest domestic concern over the past two years. They deserve to know where the candidates stand on this key issue. We appreciate the efforts and foresight of Tavis Smiley in elevating the discussion of public education in this debate."

Weaver noted that it was especially appropriate that a debate often focusing on the huge disparities in resources for public school students took place at Howard University, one of America's preeminent higher education institutions that has primarily served the African-American community for over 150 years.

The lack of equal educational opportunity for all of America’s children was acknowledged by each of the debate participants. The candidates were almost uniform in their linking of economic prosperity with educational opportunity. The responsibility for the next President of the United States to go beyond sloganeering and to provide true leadership toward closing the achievement gaps that persist among too many poor and minority students was also a nearly universal message from the candidates.

"It was past time for the candidates to present their hopes and dreams about public education to the voters," said Weaver. "We hope this is only the beginning of a serious and comprehensive discussion about our nation's shared responsibility to make great public schools a basic right for every child. We encourage the candidates from both parties to remain engaged in this debate."

Seven of the Democratic candidates participating in Thursday's debate and one Republican candidate for the nation's highest office will address more than 9,000 NEA members next week as part of the Association's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly being held in Philadelphia, Pa., June 30-July 5.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.