Congressional hopefuls air views on education

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 22, 2008 - Page: 10A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The two state legislators in the 6th U.S. Congressional District race said Tuesday they would make changes to the federal education program and other learning initiatives in the state if elected.

“It should have been titled “Every Child Left Behind,” said state Rep. Michael Jackson, No Party-Baton Rouge, referring to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which was aimed at improving public schools.

Louisiana’s standards are more stringent than the national program’s, so the state’s system has probably provided more accountability than intended, Jackson said.

The state’s standards for its performance tests are good, said state Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.

“What is bad is it requires a regimentation of how teachers teach,” said Cassidy, a doctor at Earl K. Long Hospital and professor with LSU Health Sciences Center.

Cassidy said when he teaches medical residents, he has to adapt to different styles of learning to reach his students.

“It is clear that No Child Left Behind was a good idea but because it was not funded adequately, it did not achieve half of what it intended to,” Jackson said.

Cassidy and Jackson, a lawyer, are challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, for the 6th District seat in a Nov. 4 election.

Cassidy and Jackson shared their views on various local and state issues at a forum hosted by the Baton Rouge Black Chamber of Commerce. The forum consisted of a series of questions from the general public that were submitted via the Chamber’s Web site.

Cazayoux said he could not attend the forum because he had already scheduled another event in advance.

On the issue of early childhood education, Jackson said he has always supported such initiatives because they are an opportunity to give children a chance for success in school.

The state has done a good job of finding successful programs, he said. “But with every initiative, the question becomes funding,” Jackson said.

Cassidy agreed that the state has put up significant dollars for early childhood education. Future money can be directed by building the case that investing money early will save money in the long term, he said.