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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2000

News Release

Wandering the Halls without a Pass, Bush Distorts Reading Scores

NEA Urges Bush to 'Take a Seat and Study the Facts' Before Discrediting Kids

Washington, D.C. -- Speaking at the National Press Club today, National Education Association (NEA) President Bob Chase corrected Texas Gov. Bush's misstatements about student reading performance that are currently running in television ads. "We all understand the political game," said Chase. "Gov. Bush must convince voters that the economy is a house of cards and that public schools are a disaster. While he is entitled to his own opinions, he is not entitled to his own facts. Particularly when it comes to children and public schools."

Chase said the most unfortunate distortion in Gov. Bush's ads is his claim that 58 percent of fourth-grade children in low-income schools "can't read." Bush cites the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as the source of this "fact." NCES has repeatedly emphasized that the data cited by Bush are in no way a measure of whether or not a child can read. Indeed, the truth is that since 1994, reading scores have increased in all grades on the National Assessment of Educational Progress -- the national reading report card.

Chase said it is true that many schools are struggling against dire odds. Poor and minority kids are far more likely to attend schools with unqualified teachers, rundown facilities, and inadequate resources - conditions that the Bush education plan does nothing to address.

Chase urged Bush to study the attached crib sheet outlining proven strategies that advance public education. "Unfortunately, Gov. Bush is wandering the halls without a pass in talking about student performance and education," said Chase. "We urge him to take a seat and study the facts before discrediting the hard work of children and public schools."

Chase said the great majority of American children today attend quality public schools with quality teachers. Reading, math and science scores are up. SAT scores are up. Students are taking more rigorous coursework. "The truth is that the majority of America's public schools are working hard and doing a good job. It is wrong to make them the butt of negative ads," said Chase.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.