Texas Democrats

On the Eighth Day of Christmas John Cornyn Gave to Me...

Eight Children Left Behind

Since the day No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was passed with bipartisan support in 2001, kids and educators will now have spent seven Christmases patiently awaiting the fixes required to make the program successful: full funding and modified performance mandates.  Even though they had six years to make these changes while in power, the Republican politicians, led by Senator John Cornyn, are now trying to waive many of the NCLB requirements.  "We must move education decision making out of Washington closer to where it belongs-with parents and teachers," said Cornyn earlier this year. [Christian Science Monitor, 3/21/07]

But two years ago Cornyn was singing a different tune-he was actively trying to pass legislation that would've created another unfunded mandate adding content and performance standards in physical education and requiring additional academic assessments (S. 1276).  In a typical show of his political deviousness, Cornyn mustered all his political acumen and harnessed his leadership role in the then-Republican-controlled Congress, then adroitly navigated the bill into limbo, where it was never seen again.

Senator Cornyn's biggest challenge seems to be figuring out which way to undermine public education next while he smiles for the cameras.  Isn't it about time this Grinch's heart grew a few sizes and he did something about educating kids?

 

The Twelve Days of Cornyn

 

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