Public schools will be low debate priority

Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential campaign encounters a new hurdle this week when the governor is scheduled to participate in his first televised presidential debate. News reporters chronicling the GOP horserace already are writing a lot about what to expert, what not to expect in terms of candidate tactics, who stands to win, who stands to lose, etc.

For those who do tune in Wednesday evening, don’t hold your breath expecting to hear any positive, realistic proposals for the public schools and school teachers. That is not what the Republican presidential race is all about.

Perry, instead, probably will brag about balancing the Texas budget without a state tax increase, even though he and the Legislature slashed $5.4 billion from public education and endangered thousands of educator jobs and diminished opportunities for tens of thousands of school kids.

One or more of the participants may endorse a Republican proposal in Michigan to let school districts contract their teacher hiring through private, forprofit companies. You also may hear about vouchers and other privatization schemes that are designed to enrich entrepreneurs while undermining the public schools.

The candidates also will spend some time debating ideas to return the United States to the 19th Century. Whatever happened, after all, to the cozy community of the oneroom schoolhouse? And, is the Earth really round?