The issues for this year's presidential election: the war in Iraq, taxes and illegal immigration. But rarely is education mentioned.
Enter a professional politico, lobbying for people who don't have a vote. A former congressman is involved in a campaign of a different sort. J.C. Watts is the Spokesman for ED IN '08, a campaign to get the presidential candidates to include education in their agendas.
"Six thousand kids a day are dropping out of school, or a million kids per year dropping out of school. Teachers teaching outside of the curriculum they were trained to teach in. We think those issues are too critical with the presidential candidates not to be making education a part of their agenda," Watts said.
Watts spoke to the south carolina policy forum in Charleston Wednesday. Ed in '08 is targeting South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada, the early primary states.
"Three things they're focusing on are very high education standards, quality teachers and support for those teachers," said Barbara Nielsen, a member of the South Carolina ED IN '08.
In recent debates the presidential candidates have focused on the economy and the war, but according to Ed in '08, it takes education to effectively manage a war.
"Generals have to be educated and soldiers need to be educated. If we want school teachers, if we want engineers if we want doctors....," Watts exclaimed. "It starts with k-12 education."
But where other campaigns are merely seeking awareness, Watts wants to take the message straight to the candidates.
"We actually target them in terms of sending people in to get to the staff, get to their campaign and people to tell them what we're doing," Watts explained.
And with strong financial backing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, their warchest rivals that of some of the top candidates as well.
Anyone can join the ED IN '08 campaign. Visit our website at abcnews4.com to find out how.
"Six thousand kids a day are dropping out of school, or a million kids per year dropping out of school. Teachers teaching outside of the curriculum they were trained to teach in. We think those issues are too critical with the presidential candidates not to be making education a part of their agenda," Watts said.
Watts spoke to the south carolina policy forum in Charleston Wednesday. Ed in '08 is targeting South Carolina, N"Three things they're focusing on are very high education standards, quality teachers and support for those teachers," said Barbara Nielsen, a member of the South Carolina ED IN '08.
In recent debates the presidential candidates have focused on the economy and the war, but according to Ed in '08, it takes education to effectively manage a war.
"Generals have to be educated and soldiers need to be educated. If we want school teachers, if we want engineers if we want doctors....," Watts exclaimed. "
But where other campaigns are merely seeking awareness, Watts wants to take the message straight to the candidates.
"We actually target them in terms of sending people in to get to the staff, get to their campaign and people to tell them what we're doing," Watts explained.
And with strong financial backing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, their warchest rivals that of some of the top candidates as well.
Anyone can join the ED IN '08 campaign. Visit our website at abcnews4.com to find out how.
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges.
Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly.
Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
© 2008 WCIV-TV, LLC.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
ABC News 4 to leave comments on news stories.