Chris Christie is still swinging; Ohio Gov. John Kasich changed his mind after 20 years; and Jeb Bush wants to privatize everything. Those are some of the highlights from New Hampshire where Republican presidential hopefuls flocked this week to answer questions at an economic summit sponsored by journalist-turned-education reformer Campbell Brown.
Christie, who earlier made headlines by suggesting teacher unions deserved a punch in the face, reinforced that sentiment, arguing that "unions are "punching us all the time," The Associated Press reported.
Bush, who helped push through major changes in Florida on testing and school accountability, emphasized his position as a major proponent of privatization. After he left office, Bush helped found and lead the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a major player in education reform dialogue since 2007.
In New Hampshire, Bush doubled down, a position with strong appeal to the GOP base but a harder sell amongst swing voters.
"Why not allow total voucherization? Nevada is moving in this direction," Bush said at the summit, CBS News reported. "Let the suppliers come up with the creative solutions, have high expectations and accountability, and get out of the way."
On vouchers, much hinges on how the question if framed, and no one seems to frame the question neutrally. A large survey released this week by Education Next did find that 55 percent of voters either strongly or somewhat support a "tax credit for individual and corporate donations that pay for scholarships to help low-income parents send their children to private schools."
But a 2014 Gallup poll used a tendentiously phrased question, finding that 63 percent opposed "allowing students and parents to choose a private school at public expense."
Speaking of framing, Kasich, speaking at the New Hampshire summit, called for Republicans to watch their rhetoric, arguing that calls to eliminate the Department of Education scare off independents who think it means the GOP opposes education per se.
This is a shift, if not a sudden one. Back in the 1990s, notes Sam Stein at The Huffington Post, Kasich was chairman of the House Budget Committee when it issued a proposal to eliminate 16 government agencies, including the Department of Education.
So Stein asked a Kasich spokesperson why his boss now opposes calls to eliminate the Department of Education.
"Just as he's been straightforward in saying on some other issues, his views on this have admittedly grown in 20 years, especially after his work as governor helping lead education efforts for a major state, Rob Nichols, Kasich's spokesman told Stein. The federal government's role should be severely limited, however, with the department being a resource for local schools as they choose the direction that's right for them. The interference and micromanagement must stop."
Christie, who earlier made headlines by suggesting teacher unions deserved a punch in the face, reinforced that sentiment, arguing that "unions are "punching us all the time," The Associated Press reported.
Bush, who helped push through major changes in Florida on testing and school accountability, emphasized his position as a major proponent of privatization. After he left office, Bush helped found and lead the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a major player in education reform dialogue since 2007.
In New Hampshire, Bush doubled down, a position with strong appeal to the GOP base but a harder sell amongst swing voters.
"Why not allow total voucherization? Nevada is moving in this direction," Bush said at the summit, CBS News reported. "Let the suppliers come up with the creative solutions, have high expectations and accountability, and get out of the way."
On vouchers, much hinges on how the question if framed, and no one seems to frame the question neutrally. A large survey released this week by Education Next did find that 55 percent of voters either strongly or somewhat support a "tax credit for individual and corporate donations that pay for scholarships to help low-income parents send their children to private schools."
But a 2014 Gallup poll used a tendentiously phrased question, finding that 63 percent opposed "allowing students and parents to choose a private school at public expense."
Speaking of framing, Kasich, speaking at the New Hampshire summit, called for Republicans to watch their rhetoric, arguing that calls to eliminate the Department of Education scare off independents who think it means the GOP opposes education per se.
This is a shift, if not a sudden one. Back in the 1990s, notes Sam Stein at The Huffington Post, Kasich was chairman of the House Budget Committee when it issued a proposal to eliminate 16 government agencies, including the Department of Education.
So Stein asked a Kasich spokesperson why his boss now opposes calls to eliminate the Department of Education.
"Just as he's been straightforward in saying on some other issues, his views on this have admittedly grown in 20 years, especially after his work as governor helping lead education efforts for a major state, Rob Nichols, Kasich's spokesman told Stein. The federal government's role should be severely limited, however, with the department being a resource for local schools as they choose the direction that's right for them. The interference and micromanagement must stop."
