Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is a huge fan of English immersion programs. Romney’s state used a CNN-sponsored debate in Florida to reiterate his love for programs that teach kids only in English. He’s said in other debates, and in his recent book, that kids don’t learn as well in bilingual education classes.
And, in response to a question about why his wife, Callista, would make a good first lady, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich talked up her expertise in arts and music education, an area that has faced major cuts both at the federal and local levels.
In fact, Callista Gingrich made a video extolling the virtue’s of music education and bemoaning cuts to music education at the local level.
“Many schools are threatening to cut or eliminate entire music programs,” she says in the video, released in December. “Many studies suggest a strong link between music and academic achievement. ... To eliminate music from our schools is to diminish a large part of our cultural experience. Together, we can work to support music education in our nation’s schools and preserve our cultural identity.”
So does that mean a President Gingrich would support sending money to schools to support music education? If so, that could be a pretty tough sell with Republicans in Congress who are bent on slimming down the U.S. Department of Education.