I agree. As a certified teacher, I was infuriated at McCain's comments last night. The profession of teaching is an extremely difficult task and a huge responsibility. To think that the possible leader of this country would be willing to have people unqualified to prepare our youth for the future is absolutely ridiculous.

Hear, hear! I have taught in schools where retired military personnel have come to make teaching a second career, and some of them have left after a week. I have also taught both with people who have taken teacher prep courses and with those who have not. As much as many people think the teacher prep courses are sometimes so much BS, I can tell the difference between the credentialed teachers and the uncredentialed ones. I'm all for easing re-entry of our military personnel, but not at the expense of children's education, especially in the most challenging districts.

You are ignoring the elephant in the room. Obama's support of charter schools, merit pay and NCLB are much more heinous than this remark by McCain! I am at a loss for why the NEA has gone goo-goo for Obama, except for the fact he has a (D) beside his name.

Thank you Elnora! For everyone else - google Obama's speech over the summer for the AFT in Chicago - he came right out and supported merit pay. How about supporting public schools eh Obama. William Ayers' so called education programs in Chicago have been a huge failure.

I am just as perplexed.

Would McCain want a Nurse, Doctor or Electrician that was just retired military without the appropriate education/certification...I doubt it.

As a response to teachers that fail - I would like to ask our politicians how are we to educate Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and drug affected children who come from homes that are not only less than supportive, but damaging!

I'm stunned that people making comments here don't know how much McCain has encorsed NCLB over the years of the Bush Adm. Or, that people don't realize how much money and resources the charter school movement has taken away from truly public schools.
McCain and Bush and their families have never attended public schools and have no intention of ever attending public schools.
When you read NCLB thoroughly, you realize that it never requires testing of the sort that has come over the last 8 years. It leaves the evaluation system up to the states. If you don't agree with the testing in your state - blame your state governor and legislators - and work toward refining NCLB; the law itself is nothing more than Bush's version of ESEA.
I'd like to see some versions of merit pay tried -I'm tired of horrible teachers getting paid as much as wonderful teachers - and the teachers who leave for other professions are, too.

Elnora, Sue, I did Google - Obama said NCLB is a failure because of lack of funding. He said salary increases(not called "merit pay")should be given by districts "to teachers who mentor, or teach in underserved areas, or take on added responsibilities, or learn new skills to serve students better, or consistently excel in the classroom... It is possible to find new ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them." If you read what was said, you will clearly see that his views are aligned with educator's unions and organizations.
McCain's suggestion that soldiers returning from war should be zipped into classrooms sets off many alarms in my mind, considering the great stress our troops have endured and the prevalence of post traumatic stress issues reported in our returning troops. Classrooms are certainly not low stress zones. When you hear about veterans "snapping", beating their spouses and kids, being set off by some stress trigger to a point where they are beating someone without realizing what they are doing - the classroom is the LAST place I would want an untrained, untested war veteran working!! Even troops who were experienced educators before going into battle might need some federally suppported treatment before returning to the classroom. Would you want your child placed in such a dubious situation? Bad for the students and veterans alike!!

I'm not a teacher, but I was appalled at McCain's idea that soldiers coming out of the military might move into the classroom without exposure to educational theory and practice or without obtaining certification to teach.

Perhaps this has to do with being a politician. A career in politics does not require previous experience, a political science degree, credentialing, or accredited continuing eduction. Nor is there a professional body to which all politicians are accountable.

This also might be why politicians and entertainers relate so well.

Pam - google Obama, AFT and Chicago and you will find the transcripts to his speech where he states he is for merit pay (does not specify which areas) and charter schools.

McCain wants changes to NCLB. Obama hasn't been on the scene long enough to make any kind of a difference.

How much do you want to bet he appoints Ayers to the Dept of Ed?

Senator McCain's record shows that children are much more important than pipe valves. Senator McCain beleives that all stages of life are sacred. If Senator Obama truly believed that childrens' lives were important, he would have a better voting record on life issues. Senator Obama supports taking children from the place where they should feel the safest; in their mothers' wombs. We must put life issues before education, because without life there can be no students in the classroom to teach. Without life, there can be no liberty or the pursuit of happiness for children. It makes me very sadenned to see that the NEA is proud to support a candidate who supports taking the lives of innocent children when they are in (what should be) the safest place on earth.

Liz--You rock. Maybe that needs to be a requirement to be president.

It is absolutely despicable that NEA has endorsed
Barack Obama. I am appalled that NEA has not done their research on this candidate. And I am repulsed by NEA becoming a political Democratic
campaign organization regardless of the candidate.
Did you not hear the statement of Bob Schieffer, " trends show that the United States spends more per capita on education than other countries yet trails many nations on measures such as students’ abilities to compete in mathematics and science.
It was evident Obama had no plan or clue what he is going to do for the betterment of education except throw more money into it.
If you had listened unbiasedly, you would have heard John McCain stating that we needed to reform the education in America instead of just throwing money at it.
It is imperative that a candidate's character, experience, and entire platform be researched before deciding. There are many issues that will have a tremendous effect on education than just issues directly related to education.
Yes, we do need a president that will invest
in the best interest in this country. And these investments include valuing the life of an unborn child that later becomes a precious student for one of us to teach, encouraging parental involvement by allowing parental rights of their children, and showing your patriotism by saluting the flag of the United States of America and defending this country in time of war.
McCain has already invested in this country. He proudly salutes the flag of the United States of America because he has fought for the rights of every American to live in a democratic type of government. A democratic government that can be taken away so easily.
Yes, John McCain's vision is different from Barack Obama. And I am proud to say I support John McCain's vision.

Peter. Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Donna -

How exactly does John McCain want to reform education? Besides vouchers, which is not overall reform but a band-aid solution for the families who to receive them, I have not heard a single specific idea from him on this issue.

Whenever John McCain talks about education (and it is rarely), he always speaks in broad terms. Yes, we need good teachers. Yes, we need accountability. Yes, we need to compete on a global stage. Yes, throwing money into schools is not the solution. Yawn. I'm pretty sure every politician EVER agrees. So, Mr. McCain...where does the reform part happen?

Yeah, I don't see it.

Obama has laid out clear plans to improve education; specifically by working to improve teacher education and professional development, mentoring, and incentives to enter and stay in the profession. If we're going to invest money in schools, this is where it should be happening.

Teacher quality is the single most important factor in long-term student achievement - more important than socio-economic status, family background, per-pupil spending, etc. I don't know why politicians think they should tinker with all other aspects of education while ignoring this vital piece. I'm happy that there's a candidate who's actually got concrete plans to do this.