Clark Slams Bush Education Initiative

Retired general and Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark today slammed President Bushs education initiative for the countrys public schools, saying the initiative will be the undoing of the public education system. While picking up the endorsement of a teachers union in his home state of Arkansas, Clark said the No Child Left Behind program punishes schools struggling to improve rather than give them the funding needed to meet stricter standards. Clark said the Bush administrations initiative allows for firing teachers and school employees on technical infractions and undermines the countrys fundamental principle that each child should be educated for a strong America. The No Child Left Behind law sets certain performance standards for the countrys schools and allows parents to transfer their children to other schools when the standards arent met. It also requires school districts to provide tutoring to students in schools that fall below par.