A World class education
“I don't want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don't want that future for my daughters. I don't want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.”
— Barack Obama, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007
What needs to be done? What do democrats need to stand for? Read Obama's ideas on education http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/ and then tell us yours in the comment section.
5 comments:
I like most of Obama's ideas on education. I might add teaching parenting skills and introduce child rearing classes in high schools, since a lot of high schoolers are facing parenthood today, unlike when I went to high school forty years ago.
Another thing I see as a problem is school discipline and safety. I don't know what the answer is, but if schools aren't safe, and teachers can't have peace in their classes, I don't see teaching getting done.
Lastly, I don't care how smart a graduate is, whether from high school or college, if there is not a viable, robust job market in place, what good does the degree do?
There are five million students in our nation learning English. They already speak and in many cases read another language. How will we ensure that they learn English, master other subject areas, AND retain and expand their skils in their home languages? These skills are needed in business, for national security, for international trade and commerce, and in the military.
I like Senator Obama's ideas on paying for college in return for volunteer service. I'm in college right now and tuition is a killer sometimes. I know a lot of my friends want to continue their education, but they have no way to pay for it right now. And with the economy the way it is, it is harder for them to save. Everyone should be able to attend college if they want and not worry if about working 2 jobs to pay for it. I don't know if Obama could do anything about this, but something needs to be done about the way the book business is run. You buy a textbook brandnew for $100 a sell it back at the end of the term in perfect condition and don't even get half back.
I'm an educator and appreciate all of the comments made so far about improving discipline. It's now routine for students to threaten or even strike teachers. I don't feel safe in schools and have considered leaving my job because of all the things that have happened in just 3 short years.
Aside from that, I'm constantly bombarded with facts and figures about how other countries education systems are blowing ours away (much like their health care systems). My suggestion for fixing it would be to examine what they have been doing to instruct their kids and copy it. Norway, Sweden, and Iceland boast nearly 100% literacy and our population is stuck at about a 4th grade reading level. They have to have a better way of doing education.
Education now consists of bubbling in tests in all grade levels, including kindergarten. NCLB, in the manner it is interpreted at this time, is ineffective. We are all forced to "teach to a test." We need to educate and assist parents and children in early childhood years. Using "differientation" to assist children in meeting requirements simply means "requirements to bubble in correct answers on THE TESTS." We need to change, discontinue, or reform NCLB. Children drop out of school and we need to identify ways to encourage students to stay in school and learn careers that will benefit themselves and our country in the future and current world market. Our current methods are culturally devisive and are creative a larger gap between classes. Assistance for college education is crucial for students who are willing, able and desirous to learn. I really like the idea of giving back to the community as a way of "paying back" some of this assistance.
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