The Blank Slate

Wonks of the world are still waiting for John McCain to come out with some kind of proposals on education policy. It's well known that, in general, McCain isn't interested in domestic issues. Still, on broad economic policy he at least manages to (a) admit that he doesn't know what he's talking about, and then (b) start getting his advice from corrupt crank Phil Graham. Similarly, on health care he groped his way to the conservative orthodoxy. On energy and the environment, he's taken the nuclear industry's talking points.

But on education, there are really two different kinds of conservative orthodoxy and they point in different directions, so McCain has decided to give us . . . nothing whatsoever.

Comments

Aside from "there should not be public schools," what is the other conservative orthodoxy on education?

Posted by dj moonbat | June 12, 2008 12:58 PM

The man can't keep Sunni and Shiite straight, and you expect him to discuss the nuances of education policy? Don't hold your breath.

Posted by LFC | June 12, 2008 1:09 PM

Phil Gramm, please. Not "Graham."

You owe an apology to all the Grahams out there. ;-)

Posted by Andy | June 12, 2008 1:15 PM

We all know that it's Obama that is running a campaign based on style, not substance. Leave Mac alone!

Posted by lfv | June 12, 2008 1:21 PM

Strains of conservative orthodoxy on education:

Vouchers

Teaching the "3 Rs"

No sex ed, or if there must be such corruption of the youth, then emphasize abstinence

Teachers and schools must be held accountable (kill the Teachers Union!)

NCLB ("compassionate" conservativism)

I'm not sure what the two opposing conservative othordoxies are, unless Matt is refering to NCLB and how many state Rethugs reject it as a Federal imposition

Posted by Bragan | June 12, 2008 1:22 PM

Phil Gramm, please. Not "Graham."

Just another Republican cracker . . .

Posted by rea | June 12, 2008 2:43 PM

JOOC, what are the two kinds of conservative orthodoxy on education policy? I really know very little about the issue.

Posted by Mr. Noah | June 12, 2008 4:14 PM

Must we go through the Gramm nonsense again? I mean, the same week that Obama retained a corrupt former executive to help him find a running mate--is this really where you want the conversation to focus, on whose friends are dirtier? Bring it on.

As for education policy: Regardless of who wins, there won't be a coherent policy. The education establishment has won the war over accountability, and their terms won't be reasonable. Testing will end, and money will flow. Why bother to debate it, and who cares about the kids.

Posted by Thomas | June 12, 2008 5:28 PM

He gave a whole speech to an evangelical school about school choice in conjunction with public schools, and booting out ineffective teachers.

Posted by adina | June 13, 2008 4:54 AM

I don't understand why John McCain, who is running for a national position, is expected to have a policy on how much money county-councils want to spend on schools, or on what school boards choose to put in curriculae.

It's worth pointing out that local school districts, serving local children, can't conceivably constitute "interstate commerce," so Yglesias is essentially waiting for McCain to come out with a proposal on something that he has no control over as President.

Matt, do you mean you actually believe anything will come from all those national Democratic politicians who talk so often about "education" in campaign speeches? If so, then they've suckered you.

JOOC, what are the two kinds of conservative orthodoxy on education policy? I really know very little about the issue.

I think the two basic schools of thought he's referring to are:

School 1)

--education is not the job of the federal government, nor does the Constitution give the federal government any legal argument whatsoever by which it can interfere with state/local doings on education (which is correct, but not something most people know or want to hear). Besides, does, say, a New Yorker really want Sam Brownback to have a hand in writing the national curriculum the next time the Democrats overreach and lose the house? At least if you don't like your local school board you can organize some locals to vote them out.

School 2)
--God has been regulated out of school, so restrictions on things like "prayer in school" should be softened. I have no real opinion, here, except to point out to proponents of this view that "prayer in school" opens the door to, say, "Voodoo prayer in school" (something I also have no opinion on).

The two schools of though aren't necessarily incompatible, but do underscore that the Republican party really is a coalition of unrelated philosophies, all of which hate progressivism and socialism for differt reasons: some very legitimate, some very weird. Just look at the Paul followers who hate NAFTA because of something to do with a highway.

Posted by Shinyk | June 14, 2008 1:43 PM