NEA Policy Forum Draws Key GOP Lawmakers
Six of the Republican Party's most respected
lawmakers addressed that question head-on Tuesday (August 2, 2000) in
Philadelphia at a special "Partnerships for Public Education" Policy Forum
sponsored by NEA and three leading moderate Republican organizations.
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| Michael Butera |
WEAC Executive Director Michael Butera and two
retired WEAC members who were delegates to the Republican National Convention
attended the Partnership for Public Education Brunch and Policy Forum,
which recognizes organizations, elected officials and individuals who
support children and public education. The retired WEAC members are Sonja
Maas of Bowler and Carl Toepel of Sheboygan.
"We all want great schools for every child in
the state," Butera said. "The question is how to achieve that goal."
The forum -- held at Philadelphia's historic Park
Hyatt Hotel -- drew more than 150 Republican Convention delegates, alternates,
and press and showcased the importance, as NEA President Bob Chase noted,
of "rejecting the partisanship that too often gets in the way of improving
education."
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania was just
one of several speakers who emphasized just that key partnership point.
"Education funding has a lot of champions -- on
both sides of the aisle," said Specter, who added that he works closely
with Democratic Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa.
Specter's perspective was reinforced by Senator
James Jeffords from Vermont.
"I'd like to praise all of you for all you have
done," said Senator Jeffords. "We have a long way to go, but we're making
progress."
A lot of that progress, other speakers pointed
out, is coming within the Republican Party.
"A few of us have been chiding the party for not
doing enough for education," noted Congressman Michael Castle from Delaware.
"This is a party that not so long ago said we should get rid of the Department
of Education."
Now, added Castle, there's something different
in the Republican Party, a growing understanding that "the federal government
has a role to play." And so, of course, so do state governments.
Castle, the former governor of Delaware, had high
praise for Connecticut, a state that's currently paying teachers up to
$80,000 a year. One result of this commitment to professionalizing teaching:
K-12 student test scores are up.
"This shows what can happen," said Castle, "when
you really work to recruit teachers."
Posted August 4, 2000