Republican nominee John McCain had a private meeting with Chancellor Joel Klein last week and to date the subject and content of that meeting have not been discussed. Currently there are a lot of discussions going on regarding who shall shape the national agenda for education. This is an area where the Black community’s voice must be acknowledged and respected. Education has not been a major issue discussed in this presidential campaign. The top issues have been the war in Iraq, the economy, and healthcare. I believe that education should have gotten equal footing when as a nation we have a dropout rate close to 50 percent, and a very high rate of illiteracy. As the election draws to a close we have in recent weeks seen many educators and political personalities advocating major education policy positions. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Chancellor Joel Klein have joined together to introduce the Education Equity Project, supposedly to promote a philosophy on how to improve urban schools. The plan at first glance calls for an increase in charter schools, the ability to fire ineffective teachers, and greater accountability.

I suspect that the meeting with McCain was to get his endorsement of the plan and I am told that the group has also met with the Obama campaign to get their endorsement. With all due respect to Rev. Sharpton, our community leadership needs to review and scrutinize the plan as we are not ready to coronate Klein as the savior of public education. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush recently endorsed the plan so we have to be very suspicious. Besides we should be advocating the plans of Adelaide Sanford, Jitu Weusi, Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, and other advocacy groups that have studies the problem of urban education for decades.

I read where UFT President, Randi Weingarten announced that she is promoting a concept of Schools as Community Centers. This is a conversation that we need to get in at the ground level. I promoted the ideas in a previous column some years ago of schools as cultural centers. This could be a way of truly revolutionalizing schooling in our community. Schools would house health clinics, community services and would be open to the community day and evening. With the elimination of school boards, our community lacks a consistent dialogue about education. The issue of mayoral control, dropout rates, charter schools and now School Community Centers, need to be discussed. Of course the top of this list is Black History in schools. Let’s stay focused and let’s elect Barack Obama for President, This could really be the year of change.

We must encourage new leadership and not “cut off their nuts” as Rev. Jackson stated in a Freudian slip of tongue. I do believe Obama is not above criticism and he should be taken to task for some of his flip flopping on major policy issues. It is best that we take him to task now than later. However, we must keep our eye on the prize. The black voters are solidly behind Obama and have remained his most loyal base. He too must show the same loyalty.

I am somewhat concerned about the candidacy of Cynthia McKinney for President. I don’t want McCain and the Republican Party to win this election. I am concerned that McKinney’s entry into this race may serve the same purpose as the Ralph Nader candidacy, which obtained significant votes thereby assisting George Bush’s election as President. While I do not have blind loyalty to the Democratic Party, I admit that I am caught up in the euphoria of electing the first black President of the United States. Obama does not share the politics of the left but he is the best that is available. He is also married to a dynamic black woman. The progressive black community must demand that we are heard by Obama. Perhaps we need to get this message to Michelle Obama, I think she has his ear or the New York Super Delegates need to go to the Democratic Convention with a progressive agenda and not just be apart of the chorus.