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Bill Richardson on Education
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
I would also bring, to make sure our kids that are not scoring well in science and math, 29th in the world, to unlock those minds in science and math, I would have a major federal program of art in the schools: music, dancing, sculpture, and the arts.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
"I would have a massive federal arts in the schools program for kids, it would be music, dance, sculpture, it would be a partnership...If a school is not doing well we should help that school we should put more resources into it."
On whether he would scrap or revise No Child Left Behind: I would scrap it. It doesn't work. It is the law. It is not just an unfunded mandate, but the one-size-fits-all doesn't work. It doesn't emphasize teacher training. It doesn't emphasize the disabled kids. English-learning kids don't get help.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
The worst thing No Child Left Behind does is it takes districts and schools that are not doing well, takes their funds away, penalizes them. If a school is not doing well, we [should] help that school.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
You know what I would do with it, I would get rid of it. You know I used to be part of the fix it group but it's too complicated
What we need to do is pay our teachers better. They are disrespected. I have proposed a minimum wage for our teachers, $40,000 per year. We are 29th in the world in math and science. We need to have 100,000 new math and science teachers. We have to be number one again.
2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007
The key to a good education in this country is a strong teacher. I would have a minimum wage for all our teachers, $40,000 per year. And I would emphasize science and math.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
You know, I want to just state that for the record, I am for a minimum wage for teachers. The key to a good education is to pay our teachers and have accountability.
2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007
"We don't respect them [teachers]. We don't pay them enough."
"In New Mexico we made enormous strides in improving our teach quality. And I'm especially proud that we have gone in terms of teach salaries from 49th in the country to 29th. The key to education is a well-payed and strong teacher..."
We need to find ways to measure how we are doing academically but a one size fits all test that simply hurts English learning students, disabled kids, teacher training, penalizes schools that are not doing well, that is not the way we [create incentives in] education.
We don't need this all day all style testing. If a school is not doing well we should help that school we should put more resources into it.
I am opposed to vouchers. To me, they represent flight and abandonment of our public schools. I believe private school vouchers would drain precious resources from the children who need it most. This is precisely the wrong step to take right now. Providing vouchers, draining our schools of funds, takes our focus off the task. It says, "We give up." And I'm not ready to give up - I'm ready to get to work.
Campaign website, RichardsonForGovernor.com, "Educate NM" Oct 15, 2002
I am not for vouchers. I believed they undermine our public schools.
During his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Richardson said that he opposed school vouchers.
I am a strong supporter of charter schools. They provide opportunities for students to connect with the education process, and find a path to success. They are showing tremendous promise as alternatives for families who want something different - within the public school system - for their children. I promised to allocate additional resources for charter schools, and to help provide them a more level playing field with other public schools.
State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature Jan 20, 2004
I am for charter schools. I believe is what you want is to have good competition for the public schools. I am for magnet schools.
I want to create opportunities for New Mexico families who choose home schooling or charter schools for their kids. Extracurricular activities are an important part of the learning process. We should have more access to these programs, not less.
"After Republican debate Anderson Cooper, James Carville (CNN political analyst), and Ralph Reed (Republican strategist) discuss the debate and the Democratic candidates' position on evolution: Carville: Every Democratic candidate believes in evolution obviously, every Democratic candidate believes in evolution. Every Democratic candidate thinks it ought to be taught in schools."
Indicate your position concerning affirmative action programs. 1.The federal government should consider preferences to minority-owned businesses in granting government contracts. 2. The federal government should provide affirmative actions programs as long as such programs do not include quotas.
1996 Congressional National Political Awareness Test
In New Mexico Democrats are pro-environment, pro-education, pro-affirmative action.
Affirmative action is still needed to overcome discrimination in hiring, promotion, and educational opportunities. We must keep affirmative action strong to ensure that women and people of color get a fair shake.
House Bill 212, which Governor Bill Richardson signed into law in 2003, recommendations for improving teacher quality in the state. instituted a performance- and incentive-based program to retain higher quality teachers.
We should offer cash incentives to teachers that are tied to performance. Teachers deserve extra compensation and the public expects teachers to be held accountable for their students performance. [Richardson supports increasing teachers salaries across the board to at least $40,000 a year as the main way to attract and retain good teachers.]
When asked if he supported merit based pay: No, I'm not for it. But what we need to do is pay our teachers better.
2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007
Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. Voted NO on a motion to add language to the "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" to give federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer.
Bill HR 1804 ; vote number 1994-85 on Mar 23, 1994
As governor of New Mexico, Richardson signed a bill to provide prekindergarten for every child in the state. The bill also included state funding for church-sponsored preschools as long as the education funded with state money did not integrate religious teaching.
A way to pay off your [student] loans, you give your country a year of national service. [Supports voluntary public service in return for loan forgiveness.]
Supports expanding loan forgiveness for workers in a wide variety of public-service fields, including child care, law enforcement and public health similar to the system he started as Governor of New Mexico.