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By Paul H. Heintz, Reformer Staff KEENE, N.H. -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson outlined his education priorities to a crowd of 130 teenagers and adults Friday afternoon at Keene High School. Richardson prompted a rousing round of applause when he said he would raise teachers' starting salaries if he wins the presidency, but a proposal to lengthen the school day did not go over quite so well. "I hope I don't lose your votes, but I think the school day should be extended," he told a less-than-enthusiastic group of high school students. Richardson, a distant fourth in most New Hampshire polls of the Democratic presidential field, initially told the audience he would keep his remarks brief. But after answering nearly every question posed to him and ignoring pleas from a staff member to call it quits, he joked, "I'm pretty desperate for votes." Saying he would like to be known as "the real education president," Richardson said he would "junk" the federal No Child Left Behind Act, make pre-school mandatory and expand arts and language programs. "You can't just endlessly test kids," he said, arguing that NCLB relies too much on testing math and science skills and punishes schools whose scores are below average. "If a school isn't doing good, I'd like to help that school," he said. In order to promote civic engagement, Richardson said, his administration would pay for two years of college for students who committed to a year of national service. "I think this is a way we spur educational achievement, but we also give something back to the country," he said. "We've got to sacrifice as a country a little bit." Several students quizzed Richardson on subjects ranging from his environmental positions to his multi-cultural background. Richardson combating global warming would be a priority of his and he would focus on protecting national parks and forests, preserving open spaces and building up public transportation infrastructure. He praised former Vice President Al Gore's work raising awareness of the danger of global warming, though he joked, "I hope he stays out of the race. It's getting a little late." Richardson, who has also served as a Congressman, Energy Secretary and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, trumpeted his experience negotiating with hostile governments and securing the release of hostages and political prisoners. He said he would take a tough approach with countries like North Korea and Iran, but that he would use diplomatic means before engaging in military action. "I think this president has had a foreign policy that's been devoid of diplomacy," he said. "We're not going to be the world's policeman. We're going to be the world's conscience." |
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