Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Education A Priority For Jindal

“Gov. rightfully makes education a priority”
Editorial
Shreveport Times
January 10, 2012

“All we need to do is muster the courage to change our ways and to abandon old tired methods that have failed generations of our children.”
— Gov. Bobby Jindal’s second inaugural address

The historic dimensions of Monday couldn’t be overestimated for the people of Louisiana.

And, yes, the governor was inaugurated, too.

We’ll leave the BCS championship game to our friends in sports. As for Gov. Bobby Jindal’s second inaugural we’ll note that the second term incumbent made his theme for the next four years as crystal clear as the BCS trophy: education. Indeed, it is the hinge for any future success.

The governor put school districts and education groups on alert with his call to change our ways. Every American may not be guaranteed success, Jindal said, but every child has a right to a “quality education with an excellent teacher.” He then called for “more choices” for families, noting that in some areas “traditional public schools are failing our kids.”

We agree with him that education shouldn’t be a partisan issue. But Jindal went on to warn, “Anyone who stands in the way of giving all our parents and all our children more choices when it comes to education must stand down.” We hope that doesn’t signal limited access to the planning table.

The implications of his speech are an expansion of charter schools and other local school district work-arounds. The latter should resonate in Caddo Parish where rumblings continue about dissatisfied, highly taxed citizens moving to split up the local school district into two or more independent entities.

But while charter schools may be the salvation of New Orleans education, in Caddo two charter schools that arose after state takeover have yet to show substantial improvements from the failing district-controlled campuses they once were. Jindal and the state Education Department clearly have work to do in finding a successful charter formula outside south Louisiana.

Acknowledging the ideological spirit of his conservative brand and the reality of the state’s budget wrangling, Jindal said the answer isn’t throwing money at the problem. That signals more tinkering with educational structure and oversight.

Noting the urgency of the education mission — and his finite time in the Governor’s mansion — Jindal echoed the frustration of parents of any schoolage child: “Waiting for system to reform itself is not an option”»” Thus we look forward to details of his legislative agenda.