The Great Education Debate - Resolved: America Needs a ‘Broader, Bolder’ Education Reform Strategy. Held at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute on Thursday, December 11, 2008. The debate panelists were:

For the positive

Peter Edelman, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center and former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Marshall “Mike” Smith, Senior Advisor, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

For the negative

Douglas Besharov, Joseph J. and Violet Jacobs Scholar in Social Welfare Studies, American Enterprise Institute and former Director, U.S. Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

Eugene Hickok, Senior Policy Director, Dutko Worldwide and former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education