NEW ORLEANS � Gov. Bobby Jindal told a gathering of black parental choice advocates from across the nation Friday he is committed to the principle that every child deserves an �equal opportunity to a quality education.��
Jindal, however, acknowledged to the Black Alliance for Educational Options that not every child in America has such a chance.
�I think it�s a disaster for our country,�� he said during a town hall meeting at the BAEO�s annual symposium, being held this year in New Orleans. The governor called education the �pill�� to improve a person�s quality of life.
�We owe our children an education,�� he said, adding that today�s leaders someday will have to answer to their children and grandchildren about the education they received.
Since 2000, BAEO and its national allies have been at the forefront of the ongoing struggle to ensure that low-income and working class families are empowered to choose where they want their children to be educated. During his race for governor, Jindal pledged support for more charter schools and other education reform opportunities.
Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are supposed to devise innovative approaches and operate without most of the red tape of traditional public schools. Supporters tout them as solid alternatives, especially for children from low-income families trapped in failing public schools. The state has about 1,500 public schools. A total of 53 charter schools operate statewide.
Jindal, who said after his speech that he is a �strong supporter�� of charter schools, made only a passing reference to such schools during the speech but did press a theme of �change.��
�The status quo when it comes to education is not enough,�� he told his BAEO audience. Jindal said defenders of the education status quo argue they just need more money and time. �Give us more time?�� he said sarcastically. �Our kids only grow up once. They don�t have more time. Our children our precious. Every child is precious.�� The governor advocated an �if it ain�t broke don�t fix it�� attitude when it comes to schools that are functioning well. But when it comes to those that are not, they should be fixed, he said. �Change is not just a good idea. Change is absolutely necessary,�� Jindal said. �Does change take time? Certainly.��
The governor said money �by itself�� is not the solution to improving education in the state and nation. �While money is important, it does not guarantee success,�� he said. The $30.1 billion budget proposed by the Jindal administration Friday includes new dollars for education, such as money to increase public schoolteacher pay and to boost spending on college and university programs. Jindal also said education should not become a political football.