Mike Huckabee on Education (continued)

Universal Preschool

As for expanding universal preschool education on a federal level, Huckabee maintains that individual states, and not the government at large, should resolve the issue themselves. “Education is best handled at a state level,” Stewart says.

But while Huckabee says that “the whole role of education is a state issue –it's not really a federal issue,” he does suggest that government has a part in the process: “I think the federal government can play a pivotal role primarily in helping to make sure that the best practices that are working in the states are shared with states who are struggling,” he says. An individualized approach, both at the level of schools and students, is his educational agenda, Stewart says. For students, Huckabee wants to see a “personalized learning” plan for each student, especially at the high school level. Stewart says that “each student will have a personalized learning plan ... where the student is the lead author based on his interests, passions, and dreams.”Says Huckabee: “If we really are serious then first of all we make sure that we build a curriculum around their interests rather than just push them into something that they don't care about.”

While Huckabee's unique ideas about incorporating art and personalized learning into the curriculum may set him apart, it's up to voters to decide which candidate comes out on top. And with parents an important part of the voting population, education is sure to be at the forefront of their minds come election day.

Want to read more candidate viewpoints? Check out our coverage of the presidential race: Election Fever 2008