A few days ago I told Education Week that the nobody at the GOP convention was likely to mention No Child Left Behind, except for President Bush. Well, even he didn't mention his beloved law--or education at all--during his satellite address last night. Representative Mike Castle, a leading Republican moderate and passionate education reformer, explains why:
"You're not going to hear it here," Castle said. "Politically, it's not popular."
"If you look to Congress, you're going to find a lot of experienced members who support No Child Left Behind, Republicans and Democrats alike, relatively newer conservative Republicans who will not support it under any circumstances, a number of conservative Republicans who won't support it, and a number of liberal Democrats who won't support it," Castle said. "I think a majority of Congress would support the right changes in No Child Left Behind, but a very bare majority. Therefore, I don't think you're going to see it much in the campaign."
That's a safe bet from a smart man.
