Obama on Education

[Barack Obama-sac]

The issue of education is a long standing struggle in the United States. For year plans and programs have been introduced and implemented some with success and most with lackluster results. Most recently the largest attempt to boot education was the no child left behind initiative. The pillars of
Of N.C.L.B. are:

Stronger accountability for results
More freedom for states and communities
Proven education methods
More choices for parents

Unfortunately the program was not effectively executed... Instead of I’m droving on over all education polls showed a decline in overall development. Many of the criticisms of the school system spawn from Curriculum issues, Funding for both k-12 and college, control and competiveness. While funding for public schools is high many school districts feel that the funding is not enough. A larger problem for funding is that each state receives a different amount of government funding. Both candidates have different views and how to adjust this problem to better suit the need for education in America. Presently there are a few main issues that that are on the forefront of improvement, curricular structure, Funding, Control, and Competitiveness. Classes in today’s public schools do not have much range offering the basics English math act. The controversy comes with classes such as sex education and evolution topics that actually divide the nation. Mr. Obama has spoken on both topics:

“There are those who suggest that if you have a scientific bent of mind, then somehow you should reject religion. I fundamentally disagree with that."

“We have an existing law that mandates sex education in schools and we want to make sure that it's medically accurate and age appropriate." Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007



Mr. Obama supports both being taught is schools as long and it is appropriate. On the issue of control of public school historically the government has had control of the public school system. On this issue the largest problem is that the amount of funding varies from state to state. The government and the states both play a role in control of schools. For the most part the states control the school board and the government provides funding. This relationship is very volatile because while the states do have control of the schools the government excrercices control by threating to decreasing funding.
The no child left behind bill is an example of the government taking control. Mr. Obama feel that the money for no child left behind was not properly utilized.

"I've had a lot of discussions with teachers. And they feel betrayed and frustrated by No Child Left Behind. We shouldn't reauthorize it without changing it fundamentally. We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind, and so there are school districts all across the state and all across the country that are having a difficult time implementing No Child Left Behind." Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007

With no child left behind Obama also addresses another concern:

"We've got to improve K through 12. That means not just talking about how great teachers are but rewarding them for their greatness by giving them higher salaries and giving them more support and professional development; and making sure that No Child Left Behind is not a tool to punish people, and we're not just basing how we fund our schools on a standardized test." Source: 2008 Democratic debate in Las Vegas Jan 15, 2008

With teachers stifled with having to teach to the test or risk losing funding are unable to make strides towards new perhaps more effective education.

Mr. Obama has show great support for competiveness in the school system both with teachers and with the selection of schools that parents can send their children. Mr. Obama wants to get good teachers in all schools by allowing better pay and not just judging on standardized tests.

"Teachers are extraordinarily frustrated about how their performance is assessed. And not just their own performance, but the school's performance generally. So they're teaching to the tests all the time. What I have said is that we should be able to get buy-in from teachers in terms of how to measure progress. Every teacher I think wants to succeed. And if we give them a pathway to professional development, where we're creating master teachers, they are helping with apprenticeships for young new teachers, they are involved in a variety of other activities, that are really adding value to the schools, and then we should be able to give them more money for it. But we should only do it if the teachers themselves have some buy-in in terms of how they're measured. They can't be judged simply on standardized tests that don't take into account whether children are prepared before they get to school or not."
Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate on "This Week" Aug 19, 2007

By restructuring NCLB Mr. Obama hopes to create more teachers with the drive to rejuvenate our school system.. He also wants to make sure those private schools which can offer higher wages and benefits don’t soak up all of the good teachers.

"We've got to make sure that teachers are going to the schools that need them the most. We're going to lose a million teachers over the next decade because the baby-boom generation is retiring. And so it's absolutely critical for us to give them the incentives and the tools and the training that they need not only to become excellent teachers but to become excellent teachers where they're most needed."
Source: 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007

[Gopi Mehat]

I can agree with Christopher on this. Schools that get the money just because the students did good on a test makes no sense. The stronger schools are just getting better and the schools that really need help are getting no help at all. I also agree with Chris when he is talking about the teachers. They just focus on that test because if the student in there class do good, they get paid. So the students are not really getting taught what they need to be taught. But i feel for the teachers also because this is what there told to do by the administration. When it comes down to it, its not about education its about money.

[Rogelio X Gutierrez]

I also wrote on this topic and feel pretty strong about it. I am also speaking from first hand experience by having three children in elementary school. So this topic is affecting me directly. The overall idea of NCLB was a good thing, I just don’t think the emphasize was to change to becoming a test prepatory system. The focus has become on getting kids ready to pass this test rather than teaching children. I also constantly talk with my kids teachers and they are frustrated with the way things are. They are underpaid and under-appreciated and that’s not even including being over worked. The over all management of NCLD was what failed the program. The funding was not sufficient and the management was terrible. The program could still be resuscitated and does show a lot of promise with the correct people controlling it. The biggest issue in my opinion was that schools were lowering their standards so they can stay on the above average scale and sanctions not be designated on schools.

[Christopher t]

No child left behind is one of the most ridiculous policies ever. The fact that it bases funding on how the school does on a standardized test is stupid. It just digs a hole for schools that already don't have a good education system, thus they cannot grow because they are not getting any funding. Also because these schoolshave low funding they cannot hire well-trained teachers to get any better, so they are in a loophole they cannot get out of. Standardized tests also kill the curriculum because the teachers spend the whole year preparing the students for that stupid test not what is needed to be learned in that grade level. Yes a standardized test should be used but based on the curriculum that the grade level is doing, not making the test the curriculum. And then if that student fails that have to take a ridiculous remedial class, and they fall behind.

[Jackie]

In education people always hear about how there is never enough funding for schools and how they need so much stuff to help educate kids, I agree that things need to be figured out and money needs to be given to schools who really need it and not to schools that have everything already. Education is what guides us to our careers and its as if it doesnt really matter. I also think that the "No child left behind" is really just based of the teachers and how much effort they put forth in helping and really paying attention to their students, i think there is so much money wasted on this that could be put into schools who are less fortunate to have computers and various programs to help kids.

[Jenny]

true the money should be used properly and the teachers shouldnt be so stressed because with all this testing the teachers are not able to do any real teaching because as soon as they start theres some state wide test they have to give out and they have to put the teaching on hold to give the test ...

[Melanie]

I agree that the "No child left behind" is really decided on how much effort and knowledge the teachers put forth to allow these children to succeed. When you have nothing to push you or motivate you as a teacher then you tend to lose hope within yourself. So yes we should make sure that all the great teachers are being employed at schools that are in dyer need of their expertise.