Obama Pushes For Education Reform
President Barack Obama spoke to the Urban League today to help clam fear and anger over his Race to the Top program paid for by Stimulus funds, and more specifically teachers who are fearing for their jobs.
The Race to the Top program, headed by Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan, is a competitive grant program which is designed to get states to adopt comprehensive education reforms by adopting a national set of standards. According to the Department of Education's website, to qualify for the program states are being asked to make reforms around four areas:
The previous program under the Bush administration was called No Child Left Behind, which unfortunately had the effect of states lowering standards so that they could keep receiving funding. With Race for the Top, the idea was to make teacher pay tied to in part to student achievement and reward best practices for the greatest improvements in student learning.
Still, there has been a lot of skepticism and blow back from several corners which the President addressed directly in what he described as an honest conversation. He argued that the status quo wasn't working, pointing out that American college completion rates have dropped to 12th in the world and grade 8 scores in math and science have dropped to 11th, something he called unacceptable to compete in the new global economy. He defended improving teacher training, saying that it should be like the tough residency hours for medical practitioners, adding that society needs to raise up its teachers like it does to professional athletes with praise an increased pay.
An article over at the Atlantic paints a picture of the political tightrope President Obama has had to walk to contain anger from teachers. However, that hasn't stopped the administration from supporting moves like the firing of all the teachers at a Rhode Island school. The President has been firm in his resolve to tackle education reform, calling it perhaps the defining economic issue of the 21st century.
At the end of it all, he also made a plea to parents to get more involved in their children's education, arguing that the reforms being made can only reach their full potential if parents become more involved.
To be honest, I thought it was a good speech that addressed directly many of the concerns surrounding the changes, even if it did contain its fair share of a campaign speech. I especially liked when he talked about the need to have discussions like these around kitchen tables and not just at big events with guest speakers.
Watch the President's remarks below:
The Race to the Top program, headed by Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan, is a competitive grant program which is designed to get states to adopt comprehensive education reforms by adopting a national set of standards. According to the Department of Education's website, to qualify for the program states are being asked to make reforms around four areas:
- Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
- Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
- Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
- Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.
The previous program under the Bush administration was called No Child Left Behind, which unfortunately had the effect of states lowering standards so that they could keep receiving funding. With Race for the Top, the idea was to make teacher pay tied to in part to student achievement and reward best practices for the greatest improvements in student learning.
Still, there has been a lot of skepticism and blow back from several corners which the President addressed directly in what he described as an honest conversation. He argued that the status quo wasn't working, pointing out that American college completion rates have dropped to 12th in the world and grade 8 scores in math and science have dropped to 11th, something he called unacceptable to compete in the new global economy. He defended improving teacher training, saying that it should be like the tough residency hours for medical practitioners, adding that society needs to raise up its teachers like it does to professional athletes with praise an increased pay.
An article over at the Atlantic paints a picture of the political tightrope President Obama has had to walk to contain anger from teachers. However, that hasn't stopped the administration from supporting moves like the firing of all the teachers at a Rhode Island school. The President has been firm in his resolve to tackle education reform, calling it perhaps the defining economic issue of the 21st century.
At the end of it all, he also made a plea to parents to get more involved in their children's education, arguing that the reforms being made can only reach their full potential if parents become more involved.
To be honest, I thought it was a good speech that addressed directly many of the concerns surrounding the changes, even if it did contain its fair share of a campaign speech. I especially liked when he talked about the need to have discussions like these around kitchen tables and not just at big events with guest speakers.
Watch the President's remarks below:
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