The former Secretary of Education under President Obama, John B. King, joined Cheddar News to talk about his campaign for governor of Maryland and to discuss the importance of truth in history as culture wars engulf education issues throughout the country. “I think the majority wants a healthy, truthful education for their kids, and I think it's incumbent on all of us who care about education to keep making the argument that public school is at the foundation of the health of our democracy.”

Cheddar Politics

Former Obama Education Secretary John B. King on Teaching 'Truth About Our History'

two cheddar politics. Former Secretary of Education under President Obama john king is throwing his hat into the ring to become Maryland's next governor. I sat down with the Democratic gubernatorial candidate to discuss his campaign and how culture war issues have bled over into education policy in recent years. Take a look, you know, I'm really worried about the polarization and politicization of education. Um you know, at the end of the day, I think we've got to make the case that it's crucially important for our kids to learn the truth about our history. I live in silver spring Maryland, Montgomery County about 25 miles from where my great grandfather was enslaved in Gaithersburg Maryland. That's real. That happened. The cabin where he lived with his family has enslaved people still standing on the property. And so much of our history has been shaped by the institution of slavery by segregation by redlining at the same time. It is also true that my family went in three generations from enslaved in that cabin just serving in the cabin of the first black president. And it's important that our young people learn both where we've fallen short of the promise of democracy and the progress that we've made. Why do you think issues like critical race theory or talking to Children about L. G. B. T. Q. Families is so divisive today because these were issues that were sort of seemed to be somewhat settled in the last decade and they haven't been clearly, you know, you're right about that. I think part of what's happened is people see that there's a path to partisan advantage. And so you've got some folks on the right who are trying to stir fear they exaggerate and actually make false statements about what's happening in classrooms. But I actually think the vast majority of parents and I'm a public school parent here in Montgomery County. The vast majority of parents want their kids to learn the truth about our history and to be exposed to diverse authors and to go to school and safe, supportive environments for all kids, including L. G. B. T. Q. Young people. So I think the majority wants a healthy truthful education for their kids and I think it's incumbent on all of us who care about education to keep making the argument that public school is at the foundation of the health of our democracy. So you really do emphasize your time in the Department of Education, your time in education policy elsewhere in your time as an educator as a teacher. Why do you think this sets you apart from what is a pretty crowded field in the best state in the nation Maryland? Why why do you think that education is the right background for this job? Yeah, well, certainly education is a top priority issue for marylanders. My experience as an educator, I think helps me to see the whole person, you know, as an educator, you have to see the whole child. You have to think about the impact on their lives of what's going on at home, their family's economic situation, their socio emotional needs. And so as a governor, I'll be paying attention to how transportation policy and housing policy interconnect, how education policy and economic development interconnect how climate action and economic development interconnect. So that ability to to see across policy silos I think is something educators bring and I also bring the experience of getting big things done in government. We have folks who are running who are first time candidates who've never run anything particularly large. The budget, the United States Education Department and Irish Secretary is $15 billion dollars bigger in the budget of the state of Maryland. So that that experience I think will help me get an agenda in advance for the state of Maryland. That makes us a more just and prosperous state. I want to ask you about some of the issues you just mentioned, you went through a lot of them. We know that routinely when polled regardless of demographic, pretty much every american says the economy is their top issue. And usually it's followed by any number of other things depending on their personal experiences. But it's all about the economy. We also have seen in the last few days this ramp up of the discussion about abortion rights. What are you looking at as sort of the top issues heading into this election season knowing that it is still six months out. Yeah, well, certainly education is a is a top issue for Maryland voters. The economy really, it's about two things. One is continued economic development, economic growth in the state, attracting good jobs to Maryland, helping small business owners get access to capital so they can start and grow businesses in the state, leveraging our assets like the FDA and the National Institutes of Health in order to make Maryland and national leader in Life sciences. But it's also making sure that the economy produces shared prosperity, that we address the supply of housing that folks can afford, that. We invest in public transportation, that we make childcare affordable for all marylanders those day to day quality of life issues are also part of economic success. Um, certainly the last week has pointed to the importance of who the governor is to protecting reproductive freedom. My running mate Michelle Siri runs the women's law center of Maryland is the former board president of planned parenthood. We are committed not only to protecting reproductive freedom in Maryland, but really making Maryland and north star for the country around access to abortion, which is health care and health care is a human right. And we will make sure that we have enough providers in Maryland to not only address the needs of Maryland women, but also to be a provider for others throughout the region who may need abortion care. I have time for one more question. And you know, Secretary King, I cannot let you go without talking about student loans and specifically student loan forgiveness. Obviously, you served in the role that is sort of overseeing a whole lot of student loan debt for a whole lot of people, 43 million americans hold about 1.7 trillion dollars in student loan debt. What would you suggest that biden do or Secretary Cardona due to to deal with that problem? You know, there's really two things I would love to see President biden canceled debt for all borrowers. I think we need to do that to address really a policy mistake of the last 40 years. Um, in 1980 the Pell grant program, the federal assistance for higher education really covered about 80% of the cost of college today. It's less than a third That declining value purchasing power of the, of the Pell grant as well as state disinvestment from higher education has produced the debt crisis. We see $1.8 trillion dollars in debt. Folks who can't start a business, start a family get married because they're saddled with debt. So we've gotta cancel debt for, for borrowers to make up for the last 40 years. But then we've got to fix the problem going forward. And that means working with Congress to adopt a policy of debt free college, making sure that the federal assistance, the state investment is high enough so that folks maybe have to work while they're in school, but can graduate from public higher education without debt. And as governor in Maryland, I will make sure that we keep the University of Maryland system affordable and that we make it easier for folks to get that college degree, which will help them access economic opportunity.