United States President Barack Obama would focus on several major issues today. One of the major issues would be education. During the 2008 United States Presidential elections, Obama who was then the Democratic Senator from Illinois placed education as one of the major platforms for his presidential campaign.
During Obama’s “Address to Congress” a.k.a. “State of the Nation,” he had emphasized the need for better education. Obama explained that education is the key to creating the necessary jobs to help get the country out of the economic recession. For those that paid attention to this address, Obama emphasized the importance of education. He would link education to various other issues such as jobs, health care, sciences, and so forth.
Obama nominated Arne Duncan to be the US Education Secretary. Duncan would accompany Obama to speak during a meeting of the Council of Chief State School officers.
This would be his first major speech that focused entirely on education. He proposed linking teachers’ salaries to performance of students. Obama called for expansion of innovative charter schools. On top of that, Obama proposed longer school days and years.
Obama said that the nation with the best educated citizens ends up grabbing the future. He said: “We have everything we need to be that nation … and yet, despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we have let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short and other nations outpace us.”
According to Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, he said that there is finally an education president. So far, education groups have applauded Obama’s proposal.
However, merit-based pay does draw forth much criticism.
Obama would also address education with the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In addressing the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Obama said that tougher and clearer standards are needed.
He used the state of Massachusetts as an example. Obama would talk about the science classes taught in schools across Massachusetts. He explained that the science classes in Massachusetts schools are world class.
“In Massachusetts, eight graders are now tying for first in the whole world in science,” Obama explains.
He also emphasized that good teachers need to be rewarded and bad teachers to be held accountable. In regards to public opinion polls, many want Democrats and Republicans to work together on education reform.
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