Jeb Bush: America's future depends on better education

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 30, 2012.

/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Updated at 8:31 p.m. ET

(CBS News) In remarks on Thursday at the Republican National Convention, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush made a broad plea for educational reform in America, arguing in impassioned remarks that securing "a future that is equal to our potential as a nation" is contingent on raising standards in American schools, and providing students of all backgrounds with increased educational opportunities.

Bush, who was joined onstage by Texas Rep. Sean Duffy and Frantz Placide, who attended an inner-city school in Miami, argued that students are afforded unequal educational opportunities in the classroom - a "failure" he cast as "the great moral and economic issue of our time."

"We say that every child in America has an equal opportunity. Tell that to a kid in whose classroom learning isn't respected," he said. "The sad truth is that equality of opportunity doesn't exist in many of our schools. We give some kids a chance, but not all."

"It's hurting all of America," he said.

Outlining a series of actions he argued would help "provide students and their parents the choices they deserve," Bush railed against teachers unions, and called for increased school choice and rewards for teachers.

"We need to set high standards for students and teachers and provide students and their parents the choices they deserve," he said. "We must make sure that our children and grandchildren are ready for the world we are shaping today." 

The brother of former president George W. Bush and son of former president George H. W. Bush, the popular former governor emphasized the need to "stop pre-judging children based on their race, ethnicity or household income" and pointed to Florida's system as evidence that it can be done.

"For the last decade, this state has been on a path of reform," he said. "Today, more students are reading on grade level, passing rigorous college prep courses and graduating from high school. And perhaps most exciting, those traditionally left behind are showing the greatest gains. Among African-American students, Florida is ranked fourth in the nation for academic improvement...And among Latino students, the gains were so big, they required a new metric."

Romney, Bush argued, "gets it."

"Because he is a former governor, Mitt Romney understands that states must lead this national movement," he said. "He's a champion for bringing hope to education. And he intends to be a champion for equality of opportunity, a president who always puts students first."

In May, Romney proposed major changes to the government's education system that would greatly expand school choice by tying federal funds to students, not schools, for the first time in U.S. history. He also said he would allow parents of low-income and special needs students to choose where their children go to school - including in public schools outside the geographically assigned area where they live, charter schools and at private or parochial schools.

The future of America, Bush said Thursday, "starts in the classroom...And it starts with electing Mitt Romney the next President of the United States."

[janesmith4861]

I agree, the time to take responsibility for yourself is here, it's always been here. Now, if we could just get the REPUBLICAN'S to let go of our all important tax dollars so we could take care of ourselves, and not have to take care of them and their over indulged families, we would all be fine. But I don't see that happening, you're asking a republican, and God forbid, a republican woman and child, to get off their ass and fend for themselves!

[janesmith4861]

Hey, when I think of Mormon? I think of the Osmonds (and the Romney's). Enough said, it explains it all.

[janesmith4861]

So what does Jeb Bush teach us? How to fudge an election so your brother can become president, even though the polls show otherwise? Is this REALLY the education we want our children to have? I can't speak for your children, but I can speak for mine. They will be taught the truth about this and taught what is necessary to put a stop to lying, stealing and cheating (oh, and let's not forget, how to get daddy to hide us in the National Guard so it LOOKS like we did our time in the military, but we never lifted a finger).

[vpcharan]

Transparency and integrity starts from top to bottom. If so, Mr. Romney must release his past ten years of tax returns first. If not, HOP is nominating a felon for the office of US presidency.

[vpcharan]

After handing 2000 Florida election to his brother using tactics typical of GOP, how dare he defends his brother who put this nation in bankruptcy? Two unpaid wars, unpaid tax cuts, unpaid Medicare prescription gift to Insurance companies is the answer to Florida Bush. These legislative actions were voted by Ryan, who is praised as fiscal conservative. Do any of these GOP buffoons recognize these facts?

[audemus]

Hey Jeb....if you really believe that America's future depends on better education, maybe you could tell your Teapublican buddies to leave the Pell Grants alone.

[NYScorch]

Right you are. Oh do speaking of republicans ruining education . . ever wonder why Reading Rainbow as taken off the air? Try No Child Left Behind. Yup. But don't take my word for it, what watch LeVar Burton on Why 'Reading Rainbow' Was Cancelled http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi8adI4e2Lk .

[tsigili]

No......the key to turning around America, is make every single person in this country recognize that they are responsible for themselves, and what happens to them is truly up to THEM!

The time to sit back and get a welfare check is over. It is time to get out and make your own way, or get totally out of the way.

[NYScorch]

The irony of you comment is the whole "responsible for themselves" part. If the GOP truly believed that, then why are not the individual students that continue to fail, and their parents, held as responsible as teachers are when they speak their rants on teachers. Again, read this article and pass it on to those you know. Let's fix our schools . . . .by BEING PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE as parents. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-19/the-real-reason-americas-schools-stink

[WakeUpPeople001]

Ahhhh, they get a welfare check because they are poorly educated....

[Oh-Pin-Yun]

The Lost Book of Abraham is an award-winning* documentary film that investigates one of the books in the canon of Mormon scripture called the Book of Abraham. The Book of Abraham was first published in 1842 by Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As with the more well known Book of Mormon, Joseph claimed that he received divine inspiration, not in writing a new book of scripture, but instead, in having discovered and translated an existing ancient work. In the case of the Book of Abraham, Smith said that a papyrus scroll which he purchased from a traveling antiquities dealer in Kirtland, Ohio in 1835, was, in actuality, an original text from the patriarchal father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This scroll, according to Joseph's own words, contained lost writings of Abraham and Joseph claimed to be the "prophet, seer, and revelator" who could decipher it.

Joseph Smith did translate the scroll, and he included pictures from the papyrus! But, no one at the time could verify whether his translations of the text or the explanations he provided of the pictures, or "facsimiles" were accurate, since at the time no one in America could read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic text.

Joseph's translations raised more than a few eyebrows among non-Mormons, but the Church has to this day steadfastly held to the authenticity of the document, and the accuracy of the translation done by Joseph Smith.

But what if modern Egyptologists could examine the same documents that Joseph used to make his translations in the 1830's? Would the scholars, who have long since cracked the Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic codes, concur with Joseph's translation? If so, it seems his reputation as a prophet of God would be incredibly enhanced and supported.

On the other hand, what if he was proved to have been inaccurate? What would the Mormon Church say, what would faithful Mormon's do?

Find out in this fascinating new documentary, The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim.

See re-creations of Kirtland as it appeared in 1835 when the traveling antiquities dealer rolled into town selling ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Learn about the amazing re-appearance of the papyri, 100 years after they were presumed destroyed in the great Chicago fire.

And listen as prominent scholars - both Mormon and non-Mormon - explain what these documents really were, and what all this means to the church today.

It's a fascinating story. It's bound to be a controversial story. But while this documentary succeeds in presenting the story and the facts in an interesting and accurate manner, it will be up to each viewer to draw his or her own conclusions.

[Oh-Pin-Yun]

Use this URL to view the video
http://www.irr.org/mit/lboa-video.html

[NYScorch]

Not to be rude, but this seems out of context. This article is about Jeb's idea of "education" not Mormonism. Which I would be glad to debate how Mormonism is not Christianity at all, in any shape or form. But this is not the place for such a discussion.

[NYScorch]

Ironically, the states with the highest levels of education and the best test results are consistently states that have strong teachers unions. Right to work states, or states where teachers unions are illegal almost always score much much lower. Also, strong teachers unions can prevent "unequal education" . at least within the same district. For example, when I first started teaching I got a job in Lumberton County, NC. There was no teachers union. I was supposed to teach music for grades 5-8. It was a county wide school district, yet funding was not distributed equally or justly between the different communities within the district. In my classroom in St. Pauls (where the population was predominately African American (like around 85%, another 10% native american, and 5 % white) I saw 152 students per week. Yet I was limited to 100 photo copies a month. I had no stereo, no piano, music textbooks that were published in 1962 (this was in 1997), no chalkboard, no whiteboard. I had a broken Karoke machine, a TV, and an overhead projector but no screen. And in the school that was in the main city that was mostly white students, they had just about everything they needed. I had no union to back up my complaints about unequal distribution of educational tools. I ended up spending much of my first paychecks to make copies downtown at the copy store, to purchase dry erase markers for the overhead projector (yeah they didn't even give me those), brought my personal stereo system to school for class, and oh yeah, my starting salary with a BS was $21,100. Out of that I had to pay $350 per month for my health insurance. Needless to say I didn't stay there long. I came to NY where when I walked in my room, I had books, CDs, a stereo, a piano, a blackboard, a whiteboard, and WHAT? some musical instruments. My pay wasn't much better only $25,500, and NY required me to obtain a Master's degree to keep my teaching certificate . . But at least I had some health care. If I had stayed in the classroom, I'd still be just over the national average STARTING average pay for a Master's degree which is about $52,000. AND That would have been after nearly 15 years of working.

But then again if you believe the GOP . . Teachers unions are just greedy people that don't care about education.

NOBODY wants to talk about the real problem because it's not politically easy. This article spells it out, and it's based upon actual research. I suggest you read it. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-19/the-real-reason-americas-schools-stink

[aintfakin]

If Jeb Bush is sincere with this Ryan must be squirming.
Most likely it is the typical right wing lip service to draw in the suckers and then leave em behind once they have their votes.
Just like when Rove was caught laughing at the religious right after they used them for their votes.
It wont be long before the 1 percenters are sending their kids to china and sweden for school.