Tom Schieffer touted the need to overhaul Texas' public education system in a question-and-answer session with political science students at the University of Texas at Arlington today.
About 200 students from Prof. Allan Saxe's Texas State and Local Government class grilled the Democratic candidate for governor on details of his education plan.
Schieffer cited new census figures ranking the state as dead last in proportion of residents with a high school education. He said he wants more Texas kids enrolled in early childhood development programs starting at age 3 because it will improve their chances of graduating from high school.
He criticized the 2003 state legislature’s decision to deregulate tuition, charging that the soaring cost of higher education has made college unaffordable for too many.
A student told Schieffer she had planned on being a teacher but changed her mind after deciding the profession had become too focused on standardized testing. Schieffer agreed with her assessment but urged her to reconsider her career plan.
“How many of you can remember the name of your first grade teacher?” Schieffer asked. Nearly every hand in the room went up. “I rest my case.”
Schieffer has found himself in a crowded race for the Democratic nomination for governor. His other opponents include humorist Kinky Friedman, teacher Felix Alvarado, therapist Mark Thompson, and rancher Hank Gilbert. And former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle may join that list soon.
In a two-minute interview after the class, Schieffer described himself twice as “serious and thoughtful.” He dismissed remarks Friedman made in Southlake last week about how he is the only candidate who can energize the Democratic base statewide.
“I think if it hadn’t been for Kinky Friedman, the nightmare would have been over four years ago and Chris Bell would be the governor today," Schieffer said. "But because he did what he did, I think it enabled Rick Perry to be re-elected.”
-Aman Batheja
