Jeb on vouchers: "If you were a Martian..."

Former Gov. Jeb Bush got into an interesting Martian-themed discussion of vouchers with Times state K-12 reporter Ron Matus in Orlando, where Bush's two-day education conference is wrapping up.

Keep reading to hear Bush on "if you were a Martian..."

Do you think every kid should be able to get a voucher? Is that something you'd like to see as a goal at some point in the future, an offer of a voucher to every family?

Bush: I don't think that's realistic. But I think a customized learning experience, a student-centered, student-driven system …

Let me start over, Ron. If you were a Martian, and parachuted down, and you were an expert on business systems or an expert on education for that matter, and you were sent by the Martian government to study other places and you landed here, and you were asked to report back, you would not design this system.

And if you were focused on how can we assure that every child is going to get the kind of quality education for them to be successful, it probably wouldn't be 180 days, it wouldn't be seat-driven, it wouldn't necessarily have the teachers being taught the way they're taught in universities to be trained. You'd give them different skills so that they were equipped to deal with the world. You'd use technology more. It probably would be life long. It would merge into a workforce development area. So that the obsolete industries that are - not to bring up a sore subject, but like newspapers - where you can retrain people to take new skills and whether you're 50 or 40 or 18 is not as relevant.

Think about it, we're stuck with what we had because that's just the way it is. But it wouldn't be this system. It wouldn't be the system that looks like something very similar to the system that existed in 1950.

And so, back to the question of vouchers: Maybe it's a system that has significant taxpayer support. Maybe it's a hybrid of public and private. Maybe it shouldn't even matter. Maybe that's not even the relevant point. Maybe the focus ought to be on outcomes rather than inputs. And if we could get to that debate, where we were heralding the success of learning and not so focused on where that learning took place, that to me would be victory. Because that's where we need to be. We need to be learning in different ways, and learning more things with greater rigor than we have today.

But do you think universal vouchers, or something approaching …

Bush: (Cuts off question) See you're, that's the paradigm we're in now. And that's the debate, and that's why you're here probably.

But is that the best way to get to that customized education you're talking about?

Bush: I'm waiting for the Martian consultant result to come back. Because the story line is then not about learning. It's about this it's threatening. When it doesn't have to be threatening. What I would like to say is that after eight years of being governor, and many years prior to that of being in the fight for education reform, and since then, through this foundation, what I'd like to say is that can't we just agree for a moment whether we believe in more school choice or not, whether we believe in reform to a degree or we don't, that it's got to get better.

Can't we start with the premise that the outcomes we have, that the level of learning for the great majority of kids, is not working? And if we start from there, and we get beyond the current food fight, I think we'd get a different result. So I think you know my views on these things. You just want me to say it publicly so that's the story line in the article. You'll probably do it anyways.

That certainly wasn't my intent. We know you're passionate about vouchers. But I don't know that we know to what extent …

Bush: (Cuts off question) I actually do read y'all's work online. I'm passionate about vouchers for the catalyst it brings to learning. That's not what comes out. So just as I think the conversation about these issues needs to be deeper, and a little more interesting, so too do I think the coverage of it needs to be a little less sterile and a little less confrontational and a little more focused on the bigger issues. I don't ascribe bad motives to people that don't agree with my views on this. Nor should they. And part of the reason is I think the coverage of this is focused on this political battle rather than the broader results. So, I gave it my best shot.

Do you think every kid should be able to get a voucher? Is that something you'd like to see as a goal at some point in the future, an offer of a voucher to every family?

Bush: I don't think that's realistic. But I think a customized learning experience, a student-centered, student-driven system …

Let me start over, Ron. If you were a Martian, and parachuted down, and you were an expert on business systems or an expert on education for that matter, and you were sent by the Martian government to study other places and you landed here, and you were asked to report back, you would not design this system.

And if you were focused on how can we assure that every child is going to get the kind of quality education for them to be successful, it probably wouldn't be 180 days, it wouldn't be seat-driven, it wouldn't necessarily have the teachers being taught the way they're taught in universities to be trained. You'd give them different skills so that they were equipped to deal with the world. You'd use technology more. It probably would be life long. It would merge into a workforce development area. So that the obsolete industries that are - not to bring up a sore subject, but like newspapers - where you can retrain people to take new skills and whether you're 50 or 40 or 18 is not as relevant.

Think about it, we're stuck with what we had because that's just the way it is. But it wouldn't be this system. It wouldn't be the system that looks like something very similar to the system that existed in 1950.

And so, back to the question of vouchers: Maybe it's a system that has significant taxpayer support. Maybe it's a hybrid of public and private. Maybe it shouldn't even matter. Maybe that's not even the relevant point. Maybe the focus ought to be on outcomes rather than inputs. And if we could get to that debate, where we were heralding the success of learning and not so focused on where that learning took place, that to me would be victory. Because that's where we need to be. We need to be learning in different ways, and learning more things with greater rigor than we have today.

But do you think universal vouchers, or something approaching …

Bush: (Cuts off question) See you're, that's the paradigm we're in now. And that's the debate, and that's why you're here probably.

But is that the best way to get to that customized education you're talking about?

Bush: I'm waiting for the Martian consultant result to come back. Because the story line is then not about learning. It's about this it's threatening. When it doesn't have to be threatening. What I would like to say is that after eight years of being governor, and many years prior to that of being in the fight for education reform, and since then, through this foundation, what I'd like to say is that can't we just agree for a moment whether we believe in more school choice or not, whether we believe in reform to a degree or we don't, that it's got to get better.

Can't we start with the premise that the outcomes we have, that the level of learning for the great majority of kids, is not working? And if we start from there, and we get beyond the current food fight, I think we'd get a different result. So I think you know my views on these things. You just want me to say it publicly so that's the story line in the article. You'll probably do it anyways.

That certainly wasn't my intent. We know you're passionate about vouchers. But I don't know that we know to what extent …

Bush: (Cuts off question) I actually do read y'all's work online. I'm passionate about vouchers for the catalyst it brings to learning. That's not what comes out. So just as I think the conversation about these issues needs to be deeper, and a little more interesting, so too do I think the coverage of it needs to be a little less sterile and a little less confrontational and a little more focused on the bigger issues. I don't ascribe bad motives to people that don't agree with my views on this. Nor should they. And part of the reason is I think the coverage of this is focused on this political battle rather than the broader results. So, I gave it my best shot.

Comments

[Alex]

What a collossal idiot

I wish he would move to Mars!!!

I would have 0 problem with vouchers if the schools accepting them would be willing - even as a pilot - to have the students using vouchers take the FCAT to demonstrate the money is being well directed.

If there is truly improvement in going to a private school, then the tests will clearly show the results.

[Donald Lance]

If you were an alien, you'd look like this

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/f4TrhbUUI4U/Michelle+Obama+Campaigns+Milwaukee+Ahead+WI/1ChUgHgjxwr/Michelle+Obama

[terminator]

the Jebster sounds like he's doing the classic dodge.
yes he wants universal vouchers, yes he wants to see public schools eliminated from the American landscape, yes he thinks privitizing is always better than anything public.
Ron, I think you already knew the answers to those questions.
Agree with the previous post. Jeb wants a two track system (one for voucher/charter schools and a different more accountable one for public schools). He definitely doesn't want parallel tracks for both public and private.
It's good that W has made such a horrible mess of things that we won't have to worry about anyone named Bush getting elected anytime soon!

Jeb, what in the hell are you talking about? YOU were in office for eight years with a compliant and eager Republican legislature. What did you build? How did you move closer to educating every child? I don't needs a Mars reference to tell me the schools don't work. I want someone who was in office for eight years to tell me why he failed to make them work.

Jesus Jeb, w.t.f. r u smoking now?

Last answer excellent Jeb & genuine. Way to challenge them to be introspective and objective.

Jeez, what kind of answer was that, Jeb? You're not Governor anymore where you could just run roughshod over everone who opposed your selfish plans. Mars to Jeb: The once privledged Bush name won't buy you anything but grief these days, spaceman.

8:55 You're wrong. Reform to help educate children, prepare them for college and become better equipped for their economic future are admirable goals not selfish.

9:35 You're right. But using those goals as a smoke screen to advance the neocon agenda of privatization and fiscal castration of the people's government is very selfish.

the "people" gov. or otherwise don't have a right to control a monopoly on FL student's education which is poor.

Just keep them dumb so we can save some jobs for an inadequate system, without teacher accountabilty... with continued failures? Who benefits from that scenario?

This rationale is an example of modern day slavery. That is why Public Education has become a civil rights issue.

I believe the point is that Jeb, like his brother, co-ops any position which will advance the far right agenda. To them, it's not about educating kids in the best way, its about using the issue of education to advance the party line.

[Sick N' Tired]

Please, Please, Please...Jeb Bush, go back to Mars and take your stupid brother with you. The damage the two of you has done to the USA and Florida will take decades to undo. IF we are still here and have not yet been annihilated by the Martians.

[Sick N' Tired]

Sorry, "have done".....

Jeb IS the martian -- just look at that watermelon sized head!

[NG]

Among his peers Jeb was known as one of the best governors. According to the Times the Florida educational system is being looked at as a model by a number of other states. How many hurricanes did we go thru with him leading the cleanup and recovery? Compare it to the colossal democratic failure in New Orleans. Of course we can't really tell how good or bad our schools are because they are overrun with illegals, just like our emergency rooms. One third of Floridas population is illegal. How much more time could our teachers spend with American kids if these people went home?

[NG]

Among his peers Jeb was known as one of the best governors. According to the Times the Florida educational system is being looked at as a model by a number of other states. How many hurricanes did we go thru with him leading the cleanup and recovery? Compare it to the colossal democratic failure in New Orleans. Of course we can't really tell how good or bad our schools are because they are overrun with illegals, just like our emergency rooms. One third of Floridas population is illegal. How much more time could our teachers spend with American kids if these people went home?

JEBco equals more Bushco -- keep lying until the only jobs our kids can get or do are jail guard or dead soldier.

Whatever makes a profit for his brother Neil's cartoon cash COW made in Mexico to "cure" the sickness JEB spread to destroy our schools.

Go privatize yourself you plutocratic economic royal clown and take your empty chair governor Charlie and pitiful broken presidential candidate with you. Florida is on liar overload, thanks to Jebba the greedy.

How quickly you forget what a great governor he was and since you have here's a reminder.

Jeb Bush = Goal oriented tough love.

These are the days we will remember.

Governor in Chief

Jeb Bush's remarkable eight years of achievement in Florida.

by Fred Barnes

06/12/2006, Volume 011, Issue 37

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/293ppytu.asp

9:40 is a pitiful Jebbite living in the glory days.

7:22 I'm not "a pitiful Jebbite" but I know true leadership when I see it.

There are numerous others (prominent journalists) who wrote articles like the one Fred Barnes wrote at the national level about Gov. Bush.

The facts are stubborn things. And so is a proven record. You got one thing right though, those were the "glory days."

[Clyde]

Has anyone thought that Jeb may actually know some Martians, since he often acts as if he lives off-planet??

Jeb has damaged Florida education enough.

Jeb, go damage something else - preferably yourself.