Maybe the kids can learn French first so Americans don't look so stupid when they visit Paris.

Obama says stagnating student achievement is part of a "slow-rolling crisis" and represents a threat to the country's economic future.

Obama puts hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt on our children and then blames them for a poor economic future? If this is the kind of "intelligence" Obama wants in schools, then home-schooling is far far better.

If you really want to improve your schools, refuse the federal money and ditch all the silly federal mandated programs. Spend your own local tax dollars on your own programs that actually educate the children.

Maybe they can learn chinese first so when the United States is sold out to china we can all help with the transition.

The school system did not start having these types of problems until they were flooded with spanish speaking anchor babies.

Nobody is going to learn anything if it is taught in a language that is not spoken at home.

The language Obama spoke at home as a child was Indonesian. Later it was Pakistani.

It is not true that learning suffers when only English is used at school. The opposite is true, children adapt quickly when they have no choice. My ancestors went to school in the United States and no English was spoken at home. We learned English because it was the language of success.

Strong arms. Uses our money that he doesn't have to strong arm. Who voted for this "change?"

The time has come for the other 48 States to follow the lead of Tennessee and Alaska and Re-affirm their State Sovereignty under the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

"What we're saying here is, if you can't decide to change these practices, we're not going to use precious dollars that we want to see creating better results; we're not going to send those dollars there," Obama said in an Oval Office interview Wednesday. "And we're counting on the fact that, ultimately, this is an incentive, this is a challenge for people who do want to change."

This statement from OBAMA certainly is not one of the powers provided the federal government !

Incentive / Challenge - code words for BLACK MAIL !

Careful with that "blackmail" comment. Someone might call you a racist.

Maybe they can learn chinese first so when the United States is sold out to china we can all help with the transition.

lmao! You prick, I almost spit coffee on the screen.

I don't have a problem with Obama or any other President doing whatever he can to make our kids smarter. An uneducated population is not only bad for all of us and the economy, but it's dangerous. I'm no fan of Obama, but I'll definitely root for him on this one.

Maybe we should apply the same standards to Congress!

Good one Beanne

Worse yet Obama is showing his true colors here especially. He is acting like a petty dictator who by saying "embrace reform or lose money." I have long suppressed belief that Obama is not as good a person as he first appears by hoping that Obama only came across that way and did not actually mean it. The more he talks the more secure my gut feeling is that he does not just believe he is our POTUS, but our dictator as well.

If Congress will not control him by cutting his purse strings, then it is time that we the people do so by calling for his removal before he declares martial law and has us all under house arrest. This step of threatening to further damage our children's educational future goes right along with the lies he has been saying about his socialized health care reform. It is not reform he wants but a total government take over. I think that at least some in congress are starting to see Obama for what he is and are no longer letting him bully them into signing off on something they don't fully understand and approve.

The honeymoon is over Mr. President. You are exposing yourself for what you are, a racist and a wanna be dictator.

To improve schools it takes more than Obama has come up with..good teachers are hard to find....performance bonus issues will only work if it is a true item and the teachers are really good...not just because they have the time in to claim it..it would have to be because the real numbers of kids graduating had increased because of better teaching. Teachers unions will complain if their teachers with lots of time in do not get these bonus dollars whether they deserve it or not..and that would be the wrong thing to do. But then, what do you do to create a learning experiance in the kids homes..that is where it has to start...with family's caring about their kids enough to want to put the effort into helping them...and on that alone Obama and others will have a huge problem...especially from the inner city folks...because they teach a different thing at home..and that is how to beat the system...not become a working part of it.

""The devil really is in the details," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said. Many teachers fear they will be fired if they are judged unfairly on student test scores, Weingarten said."

Wow! I can't believe this idiot put "unfairly" in his comment.

The schools should refuse this money. The basic premis is good (teacher responsibility) but this will only result in more federal interference in education even to the point of dictating exactly what can be taught in the schools.

What happened to the campaign speeches that said he was going to be open minded, transparent, discuss the issues and reason among ourselves? More lies from an administration that can smile while they are lying to us. We've sure seen Change....but nothing we can believe in. Bring on 2010, 2012, so we can get America headed back to sanity.

Michael #64 has it nailed. Why are we not talking about the need to get the Federal government OUT OF the state's business. This is an example of what happens when the theoritically sovereign states whore themselves by taking scraps from the federal government.

Everyone in the USA needs to start brushing up on their history. Google Hitler Youth. We're headed the same way if we don't get rid of this president. He is nothing more than another Hitler. This is the beginning of trying to control our kids with brain washing.

It doesn't matter how knowledgeable the teacher is if no one is listening. Cell phones, clothes, and non-school activities are more important than education. The govt. is not going to force the parents to make education a priority. Education beings at home.

Of course they would, gop afraid if their voters got educated their lazy butt would be out the door

Both party's should fear an informed electorate. As with most partisan thinkers the author believes only their position and party has any merit in the arena. The sad fact is both party's haven't had a history of cooperation or reform, the facts belie their rhetoric and their followers are rather shallow. I have witnessed the corruption prevalent in both party's and the folly of their policies as a resident of Illinois. I can report both party's are the same corrupt and arrogant. The pathetic followers of either party are the biggest obstacle this country faces.

Quinn... and the teacher's union(which I am forced to be part of) will bow down to Obama. If this was a republican idea.....they would come out fighting. It's bull.

It's a shame and a disgrace how education has slipped in our country. In my undergrad classes, it wasn't unusual for students to be ignorant of history, grammar, math and other basic knowledge that should have been taught in the grades prior to college. I still wonder how some of these kids ever passed the SAT's. I will wait to pass any judgement until I see the actual proposal and have time to research the pros and cons. The No Child Left Behind program looked good on paper, but has not had good results in our area. But one thing is certain, our education system must be improved if our children are to be competitive for future jobs.

Did I read this right? OB is adding 100 billion to education spending??? Is that not 333 million dollars for each of the 300 million people in America?? Is this really the cost of educateing our children or the cost of supporting unions and overspending!! Come on people, I find 100 billion added to the previous budget offensive!!!!!! This amount of money could clear every single persons debt and if you have half a brain and an iota of common sense you could be as wealthy as the Kennedy's for generations!!!. Something is obviously wrong with a system that can spend this type of money and not have higher salaries, benefits an such (like our leaders). Perhaps it's Government involvement that costs so much!, after all they have misplaced everything we have paid into them so far and can't seem to balance anything to give us an answer as to where it went... How long are we the people going to allow this fiasco to continue???

Has anyone thought about the fact that all kids are different and come from different homes? I can teach until I'm blue in the face--if I don't have supportive parents I can only do so much. We are teachers not miracle workers. I wonder if the commander in chief has ever stepped into an inner city school where a kids first priority is food and not a "stimulus Package".

In my undergrad classes, it wasn't unusual for students to be ignorant of history, grammar, math and other basic knowledge that should have been taught in the grades prior to college.

If one need proof read the assessments of the political system right here. They have no clue about the constitution, the history of their party's and can hardly convey their thoughts without resorting to name calling.

It never ends with this guy. Time to go on the road for a bunch of staged "town hall meetings" on education reform...to divert attention away from the Titanic of all Mr. Obama's plans...health care reform.

Teaching-mom,

You are correct, the home life of a child has more say than that of teachers. But, I would content that getting the best teachers that we can is important. I have come from good public schools, so I don't know first hand of the teacher problems. So my opinion is clouded by a lact of facts (just being honest). But there must be some way of improving the education of students in schools. And teachers are going to be a huge part.

BTW: I learned from several people and several examples in life that learning is best done in little 10 minutes chunks. My father and 2 professors showed me by clear example how 3 - 10 minute learning "chunks" will teach you more than a 1 hour class. It's kind of a brain biology thing (something about chemicals that get depleted in nerves and time needed to "recharge"). This is a powerful learning/teaching fact. Yet, I see no one using this directly in public schools. Here is a technique that could improve learning in children (by my experience, something like double). Why is no one using this technique? It is a fairly widely known phenomenon.

"There are going to be elements within the teachers union where they're just resistant to change, because people inherently are resistant to change,"

I applaud Duncan for trying to make needed changes, but I suspect that the teacher's unions, who were one of Obama's strongest supporters, will start pushing back, saying "We supported you so we DIDN'T have to make changes", and will start demanding payback, like the auto unions got, or threaten to withhold their political support. Unions certainly strongly opposed Bush's attempts to make changes, especially testing standards to identify weak teachers/schools.

It should get interesting.

scott: 100 billion divided by 300 million is $333.33. That would in no way pay even a car payment, let alone all of America's debt.

Its about time that teachers be treated the same as those of us who have to prove our value in the work place, rather than resting on our tenure. Just because you have stayed under the radar all these years shouldn't give you protection from performing.

"Maybe the kids can learn French first so Americans don't look so stupid when they visit Paris . . . 3rdpartyadvocate"

What the heck does this have to do with the debate on education reform. That would be like me saying, "I raise birds as a hobby. Can you see the one I'm holding up?"

scarab333- Do not know what part of the country you live in, but I live in a small rural school district 60 miles NW of New York City. In the LOVELY STATE OF NEW YORK, we pay SCHOOL TAXES if you have the MISFORTUNE OF BEING A HOMEOWNER. If you don't have any kids, you still pay the school tax. If you don't own a home but pay rent and you have kids, your kids still go to these schools free, no tuition, gratis, etc. Also, this fine little school system of ours 4 to 5 years ago introduced a new math book into the Middle School. The idea was to form groups of students that would work together and learn MATH through discussions! Did I mention that these NEW MATH BOOKS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH NUMBERS ONLY WORDS IN THEM. Also, the District thought that this was fine. If were NOT FOR CONCERNED PARENTS DONATING THEIR FREE TIME AFTER SCHOOL TEACHING TRADITIONAL MATH, these students were doomed for FAILURE.

As a TAX payer, you get to vote for the SHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET every year. However, if you vote no, then they get their KNICKERS in a KNOT and say that the kids will suffer because after school programs will be cut, arts and music and sports programs along with school busing, etc are the favorites mentioned. If you live in a school district of 1000 or more students, I don't really think that 1000 students are into the arts, music and sports programs. They then will make a mandatory cut or sometimes just resubmit the same budget. If it is denied a 2nd time, they can try again or just go to an AUSTERITY budget which is basically the one voted down minus $100,000.00. To be vindictive they end up laying off school bus drivers, cutting routes and other programs.

BOZO's program is also BS.

"Maybe the kids can learn French first so Americans don't look so stupid when they visit Paris . . .

Hey, maybe our teachers should start teaching kids in American schools English, instead of Spanish, French, etc...you never know when they might need to use it!

Come on give me a break, you dip.

I have figured out how Obama works. If you don't play by HIS rules you don't get the money. Pretty sad because its not his money, its the US taxpayers money.

John-385319 "Until PARENTS accept responsibility, get involved in their children's lives, be role models concerning living a moral life and working hard for what you want as well as the corrupt teachers union is out of control there will NEVER...EVER..be any change. This is just another payoff to the corrupt teachers unions."

I hope you're wrong, but after watching what happened with the auto unions, I fear you may be right - payback for union support - with taxpayer money. Unfortunately, railing against poor parenting does no good - you have to play the cards you're dealt - unless you include parenting skills as part of the education program.

scott-857198

"Did I read this right? OB is adding 100 billion to education spending??? Is that not 333 million dollars for each of the 300 million people in America??"

Check your math. It's about $333 per person, not $333 MILLION per person.

People better wise up quick! First the government took over control of the banks, then private companies, energy, and healthcare reform and next they want control of the schools & children so they can teach them to think sociailist! This should be a huge wakeup call to all parents! This is no joking matter.

Socialist country brainwash their children to follow and believe that their dictator can do no wrong. There are already signs cropping up in this country that should be a warning to everyone that believes in our Constitution and what this country is about. Trying to control schools through money dangling like a carrot in front of the teachers is bad news. We already have testing in place to rate the students' performance based on national standards. The problem has been the quality of the teachers and the lack of the school's ability to discipline the children because of parents suing for any reason they can think of. Out of school Suspensions are plain stupid as it turns the little monsters loss to do as they please. Parents need to give schools the power to control their children instead of acting like children themselves.

Before long the government will make home schooling illegal as well so that no child can avoid their control.

Like all of this administration's plans, this one is flashing money we do not have to spend with big promises of grand things to come. Reality check, people. We have had the finest schools in the world for decades and don't need government control to maintain that.

Education requires teaching and learning. No matter what teaching methods are used, if the student refuses to learn, education does not occur. Behave yourself, keep your mouth shut, pay attention, do your work, ask questions when you don't understand. Try teaching to a class of 35, 28 of which won't stop chattering, won't do in-class assignments, won't take notes, won't work with peers in small groups, won't participate in designed activities, won't turn off the damned cell phones and iPods and you can't discipline any of them because the administrators don't want to cause trouble with the parents. The parents think their little darlings can do no wrong and if the mean old teacher tries to control the 90% illegal alien class then the teacher is a racist. How much learning do you think the other 7 students are getting in this common daily situation. By the way, at least one of the illegal alien non-english-speaking 17 year old girls is 6 months pregnant by her married (to a woman in Mexico) 23 year old illegal alien boyfriend and her Mommie and Daddy think it's okay and the adminstrators won't even report the situation to Child Protective Services and tells the teacher "We've taken care of it." Yes there are a few incompetent teachers but the good 95% work under incompetent administration and school boards that have not a clue. I did not spend tens of thousands of my dollars and 28 years of my life to be a high priced babysitter. That's what the public education system has become. Hold parents responsible for the conduct and learning of their children. Not just attendance, but academic achievement also. Fine them if their child gets into trouble at school or doesn't do the work. Stop believing that the student and parent are our "customers" and they are always right. Parents are responsible for the education of their children. They use teachers (experts) to fulfill their responsibility. We are not servants, we are the educators.

I agree one hundred percent with the double standard part of your comment.

However, a friend of mine graduated HIGH SCHOOL with a 3rd grade reading level. He can't get a promotion at McDonald's because he can't read the test.

No Child Left Behind has brought the entire system lower. Let the kids who excel excel and help the kids who don't. It's not that I want to put people into smart and stupid groups, it's just that standardized testing is a horrible way to judge students progress. Let good teachers (ones that have known and taught each particular student) make the tests for each student. I know this is a lot of work for a teacher and the good ones who can handle it should get paid accordingly. In this way kids could actually reach their potential without having to be judged by their peers. (AKA everyone taking the same test and comparing scores) Private tests, private results, and smarter kids. Each test could be categorized into a difficulty bracket, and the test would be a statistic with no face on it. Each student would be able to see how they did in each area against the other numbers in their bracket. That way if a student realizes, "Hey, I can do better than this!", they can talk to their teacher and request a more difficult test level. This suggestion bases on the assumption that teachers can handle their class load, which in most cases they can't. This is not a result of poor teaching, rather a lack of teachers. If we could incentivize teaching instead of putting regulation upon regulation on it, perhaps we could earn more teachers. Another suggestion would be to have these newly found good teachers stay with a class from kinder-garden all the way through graduation. When that class graduates they would start over with a new class. This way, teachers would not be able to get into routines that end up hurting students learning in the long run. It would keep the job fun, help them develop relationships with the students, and more importantly give the teachers a better understanding of where the kids are at when it comes to the test at the end. It would end the get 'em in and get 'em out mentality that I saw in my high school and I'm sure is present in every school across this great country.

Let me know what you think if you like, but please don't leave derogatory comments. If you disagree please tell me why and how you would do things differently.

Thank you.

Ho hum. Also, zzzzzzzzz

If I was a public school teacher, I'd find something else to do.

Parents should consider several generations into the future and get their kids into the better boarding schools. Sell it all, live like crap in order to make it happen.

This Black Hitler needs his strong arm tactics Broken off and stuck where the sun does not shine!!

So not only is B.O. essentially using extortion on the educational system, he also wants to perpetuate the biggest problem with our educational system. While his intentions are good to offer incentives to teachers who do a better job, the way they're going to measure how well the job is done is through testing, a practice which is destroying our educational system. Teachers are teaching specifically for tests. Sure the kids will know the answers to the questions but do they know the information? It's my contention that they don't. It's like college students who cram for an exam, do well on the exam and if you asked them about something related to the exam a week later they'd have no clue. Preparing people for a test is not teaching and it's not learning, it's merely memorization and regurgitation. You learn through applying knowledge, not regurgitating it, it's the same premise behind word problems in math, the calculation is exactly the same but because you have to apply what you've learned on your own instead of having the problem already constructed for you a lot of people struggle.

Tryingtohelp - I will only make one comment about every thing you said. Keeping the same teacher throughout a child's education is not a good idea for either party involved. 1) If a teacher decides they don't like that student, then they are stuck for 11 more years - bad idea. 2) the teachers need a break from teaching the same students year in and out. It is a good idea to start fresh with a fresh group, it gives the teachers a lift than to think I have to deal with these same problem children year after year. 3) It is a good idea to have kids exposed to different teaching styles. A different teacher may make something click that the previous teacher didn't.

I do agree that keeping the same teacher for more than one year is a good idea, but not for the child's entire educational career. They group in my child's public school. It is good if you like the teacher - bad if you don't.

I really believe that the problem with education is the parents. Parents work much longer hours now than when we were kids. They have less time to spend helping children with homework. They aren't involved because they are working - not their fault. Also, if the parents don't understand English or what is being taught how can they possibly help the child.

It is more than just blame the teachers for children not learning. I think we need to recuit better teachers with better pay and incentives. We need more schools for smaller class sizes, more discipline. Charter schools are not the answer. Vouchers are not the answer. The money should be going to public schools. If private schools have better success than public schools, we should find out why. Smaller class sizes? More involved parents? More discipline? There is a reason, we should be finding this out.

JoAnn...

You are correct about Mr. Obama's "play my way or I'll take my ball and go home" way of conducting business. Mr. Big Shot never stops to consider that it's not his "ball" in the first place, it's ours.

Diamondduq - you are right on the money with the standardized testing. In VA we have SOL testing starting in 3rd grade. I remember when my friend's daughter was first exposed to this. They spent the entire year doing nothing but cramming for this test. They had so much material to cover and the kids would jump from subject to subject at lightning speed, they didn't understand any of it. Then it was on to the next subject. It was her mother's job to try and explain it to her, because the teacher didn't have time to help kids who didn't get it the first time. I was furious. My daughter will start 3rd grade this year and I am waiting to see how it goes.

Of course we have to have testing to see if the children are grasping the concepts but to cram the entire year and not really stop to see if the kids are getting it is completely wrong and doesn't benefit them at all.

It's VERY hard to teach students who are thugs, delinquent, dysfunctional, disinterested, emotionally disturbed, stressed out, on drugs, from dysfunctional homes, etc, etc, etc. The school environment (and atmosphere) that is created by all of these kinds of students makes it VERY difficult for teaching and learning. In public schools, gone are the days when students sat attentively, obediently, and respectfully for a teacher. When you lose respect for authority, you have lost, period. I grew up in a small-town public school in Pennsylvania. I dealt with the bullies, the druggies, the thugs, and all the rest. Then, at home, I dealt with all kinds of disfunction. My life was turmoil. Finally, in adulthood, I was fortunate to work in a private, Christian school. What a difference! It was like going from night to day. There were rules of conduct. Students were taught proper, polite behavior - not only towards the teacher, but also toward one another. The environment and atmostphere were so much more conducive to learning. The State has taken the authority away from teachers. Teachers can no longer insist on students having proper behavior, and they can no longer discipline in an authoritative way which shows the students that the teacher is the authority. When authority is lost, the result is chaos. And chaos is what we have in the American Socialist Government school system. So, a teacher who has a class with too many dysfunctional students and delinquents is going to be punished for them not wanting to learn or perform?

Thanks for the correction!!!!!!!

Beware! You as the parent will become the teacher in Va! I too am taking my grandchild out private school and entering her into the 4th grade in a public school. Private school is very expensive and we get no breaks tax wise but at least they have discipline and structure and the kids really learn. Accountability doesn't exist in public schools anymore and the kids know it. But with the economy as it is, I can no longer afford private school. I just want her to get a taste of the real world and try to give the public system a benefit of the doubt. You as a parent will need to address any issues you have and don't always blame the teacher. Don't hesitate to go to the "public" school board meetings which are normally televised, to address your concerns. Behind closed doors doesn't document nor hold them as accountable as a public meeting. Be a pain and you will gain!

Many of the problems with education today relate to having the teacher's hands tied when it comes to discipline. Kids are unruly, and teachers get little suppoort from administrators who are more concerned with avoiding conflict with parents than enforcing rules of behavior. And teacher's unions resist any attempts to weed out poor teachers.

I attended several classes for our granddaughter who was living with us, and was amazed at how unruly the students were, and when her grades came in at mid-semester, I pulled her out of regular classes and did home-independent study. While it was a bit more work for us, the results were dramatic. She went from several Fs and Ds and a few Cs, to 4 As and 2 B+s. She was able to excel because she could focus on schoolwork instead of being distracted by other student disruptions.

I realize that most people are not in a position to do this, but the results, and her behavior changes, were amazing. There are charter programs available for home schooling in many states, and I would recommend that parents look into them.

Education starts at home. All the money in the world won't change that. If you are not brought up to value hard work and education then it dosent matter how much money is given to schools. I think the problem is bad parenting and that our efforts should be focused on that.

I'm a veteran teacher with only two years or so till retirement. Whew! What a ride it's been. The saying goes with age comes wisdom, so frankly I am not surprised at what this very unwise, young president has said. I belong to a teacher's union that supported him. Well I can assure you I won't be paying those dues anymore. What he has said about no learning, no money. Folks, that's the final nail in America's educational coffin. Most Americans (parents particularly) get very angry with me with when I say we, as a country, have lost our edge in the world market due to low test scores in the sciences and math. They find out later when their little Johnnie/Janie enters the work place or college. The lack of language skills and the inability to use language effectively compounds matters and makes Americans look bad overall. Remember, when we travel, we are judged by how well we communicate through language. There are Europeans and other countries and cultures that know our language better than most Americans. REALLY! Hey, I can't get to everyone.

But the biggest and most negative factor in the American educational system are American parents. Most don't even realize that education begins at home, i.e., my target audience who will never even read my post or any other of value. Or worse, won't realize they are the target audience. Parents need to back off. When we discipline it's because the student is unruly, creating an atmosphere of chaos that inhibits the teacher from teaching and the rest of the class from learning. The parent would rather arugue that the teacher is wrong and is singling out their little Johnnie/Janie causing his/her self esteem to suffer. Hm hm! And if the student earnes a B or a C - folks that's it. He's/she's not the top of the educational heap. Get over it. I have yet to know of any teacher who fails a student because they don't like him/her. We don't have that much time to devote to such trivialities. I realize this is a direct reflection on you and your precious DNA - but the facts are the facts people.

This is only the tip of the proverbial ice berg and only one in dozens of answers to why your child isn't doing as well as he/she could. Years ago the American N.E. was the place to send your child to school. There is still honor in most of those academic institutions, but they too are losing a foot hold in the world of academia sciences. Such is the president you elected.

Democracies such as our have a life span (like anything else) of about 200 years - give or take. We are beyond our prime. So I've done my best with what I've been given. Blood from a turnip and all that.

If the only people procreating are of lesser quality than what is left? Thee just aren't enough qualitative to hold on. They become washed away in a morass of doomed America, i.e., Maury Povich or worse Jerry Springer. If we keep waiting for specific segments of our population to catch up or if we keep insisting on educating everyone at the public's expense then the total disintegration of our once strong society is doomed. Time to move back to Europe and other lands and regroup from whence we came. Good luck America. You'll never make it with a president who gone through life for free without the knowledge of how to make it work but rather how to work the system. And now he is denying the very system that gave him the opportunity to reach the heights he has reached. Shame on you Mr. O.

The Teachers and Teachers Union will not like this reform policy as it will make them accountable .This is the change they voted for and now they will have to change or denied funds or let go.

While I see many people criticize Bush's No Child Left Behind Act (which was co-sponsored by Teddy Kennedy), here are some of the results, according to Wikipedia;

The Department of Education points to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, released in July 2005, showing improved student achievement in reading and math:^[11]

• More progress was made by nine-year-olds in reading in the last five years than in the previous 28 years combined.
• America's nine-year-olds posted the best scores in reading (since 1971) and math (since 1973) in the history of the report. America's 13-year-olds earned the highest math scores the test ever recorded.
• Reading and math scores for black and Hispanic nine-year-olds reached an all-time high.
• Achievement gaps in reading and math between white and black nine-year-olds and between white and Hispanic nine-year-olds are at an all-time low.
• Forty-three states and the District of Columbia either improved academically or held steady in all categories (fourth- and eighth-grade reading and fourth- and eighth-grade math)..

I suspect that many of the criticisms are from teacher's unions who oppose any accountability standards and don't want people to know why our schools are failing, but if nothing else, the NCLB Act allowed us to have a basis for evaluating our education system to identify needed changes.

I suspect we could learn a lot about proper education standards by comparing our system with some of the highly successful foreign education systems (ie: Europe, South Korea, etc.) who do a far better job - at half the cost per student. I also question the value of bi-lingual classes, where the students are so poorly integrated into the education system (at great cost) that they never have a chance to catch up.

I personally do not believe the education problem in America can be solved politically. As much as I am against nearly everything Obama does... I will not say that he is anymore or less to blame for the success or failure of his efforts as any other President has been. I have seen plans from Ford (I was too young for Nixon and Johnson) Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and now Obama. And I will see the next persons also, God willing and a little luck holding. And in every one of these educational agendas the same problems always came plowing in. We blame money, we blame teachers, we blame society and we blame each other... and in every instance we are correct and incorrect at the same time.

It goes without saying and is a fact. That kids who do well in school are the ones who want to be there. Who have been convinced by their parents that school is a good thing... not just an important thing. If important or necessary were a concern in young people they would not eat junk food, or do drugs or get pregnant... but they still do. But, you look at what has been drilled into kids heads by the environmentalists and you will see a different matter all together. They have CONVINCED kids without a doubt that the sky is falling and kids buy into it 100% and are willing to do something about it. Now, I am not here to argue the environmentalist against the those who have less active opinions on the subject. I am merely making a comparison in kids taking OWNERSHIP of an issue. They have that issue (the environment) and they have not been convinced (at least most) of the major importance of reading and writing, and all other aspects of a solid education.

It falls 100% on the parents to get their kids where they need to be concerning education. TV, Video games and all the techno distractions of today have made a bad problem worse. Do I have an answer... yes... take control over your kids and do it very early in their lives. Stop trying to be their buddies and start being their parents... do not fear the word "NO" and do not fear being an @!$%# if necessary. Kids say every day... "my mom and dad could care less what I do" and things to the same effect. Kids will respect you more as their parent then their friend. I would ask you this. In the last 6 months... how many times have you turned off the TV or the PlayStation, turned off the computer, turned off the cell phone and took the home phone off the hook and sat down along side YOUR teenagers or middle and preschooler's and spent the evening teaching them how to read, or understand what things are, and what they mean? 3 times? 5... 6 times..? Have you done it at all....????

Yeah. you... me... we are all tired after work. We hate our bosses and open the damn mail and want to puke. It is a crying shame sometimes. and can seem to blow us all out of are ability to even care. But, one fact always remains true... kids are the responsibility of the parents... not the teacher... or the Government. The teachers who seem to always get the blame have 39 other parents problems to teach and keep interested besides yours. Maybe look at driving an older car instead of the one that costs you $450 per month, plus $150 in insurance (some even have that same cost X2 cars). Put that money into a private school or tutors or whatever you can do with what you can save. What ever the case may be for your situation, you will get back what you are willing to give. Sacrifice sucks... Its uncomfortable and very inconvenient. We have all become intolerant of it and look for the Government to subsidise us for it every time we are asked to go beyond are comfy zone.... I am not preaching AT you... I am with you, pointing my finger directly at ME... and know that the same principals apply to me. I also know it is the only answer... because as I said in the beginning... we have already tried everything else.. all this talk we are being given by this administration is a new spin to try is doing is more of the same with bigger numbers. It too, will fail... We must find the answers for our kids at home... among ourselves and by our own doing. Then what is already available may have a better chance to work.

too much multi-tasking which dilutes any hope of effectiveness being employed.the constant barrage of taking the problems that generally emit from washington's misguided mandates that rarely improve ANY situation they are designed to address only puts more stress on the state and local governments that actually deal with the circumstances the idiots living in a vacuum believe to have greater understanding in solving.

the most effective sources are usually the ones actually engaged in dealing with the day to day challenges educators face-not political windbags whose primary agenda is retaining and expanding their power.more unethical behavior from a president that lacks the integrity and honesty needed to address the myriad of problems facing the educational bodies in this country.shame on obama for politicizing children in his endless attempts to exert control over areas of american life that do not need federal oversight causing more ineffective and wasteful dispensation to occur.

Obama is just power hungry plain and simple. He can't do anything without taking control over its direction. Obama = Big Government. Big Government = High Taxes to feed it...funny how many Americans don't follow this simple logic...

If the Fed does everything all home grown creativity and responsibility is lost...

The Fed is always into the affairs of the State and communities... when they shouldn't be.

This standardized issue... or cookie cutter issue... will make it so that all students come out with the same understanding... and the same Cabbage Patch Doll Look on their face. And many American parents don't subscribe to the culture that is being taught in the schools. When God is mentioned "it's like hitting a hornets nest".

Voucher systems would have helped to eliminate the schools that are not producing. It would have helped to raise the bar on quality education as parents made the right choices for their children. But the aim has been to control our thoughts and values... and the success of that aim is evident in society today.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate private institutions and home education. My son briefly attended a charter school who taught Arabic as it's only elective for foreign language. This school was founded by a Muslim group... and they were a genuine people. But put in a bid for a charter school founded by a Christian Group... and all hell breaks loose. The obstacle course for relevance becomes three times as hard.

The final conclusion... our education process is heading the same way as the aim of our federal system... which is... level the playing field... and reduce the ability of choice. Make sure that everyone is learning the same thing... with an emphasis on the ability of minorities or special interest groups getting the benefit of the doubt. And the final say on curriculum lands in the laps of those in Washington.

The side bar is the same as it has been now for 30 years. Parents don't know what's best for their children, but the government and schools do. Parents rights are overwhelmed by the system...(unless you can fork over thousands of dollars for private school)... and the Parent is ultimately held responsible for the students achievements. That the school teaches a system to our children that we may not agree with is not taken into account, and the student is forced into a situation where they are uncomfortable, but they are also without a recourse for dialog. It's the moral and religeous values that are the ignition switches.

Maybe the kids can learn French first so Americans don't look so stupid when they visit Paris.

By my count the US has had to retake that city...twice...because they couldn't do it themselves. Maybe English lessons are in order.

If we are raising the bar on the children, why shouldn't we do the same with our teachers? Secondly, charter schools are not always better. We need to be careful with allowing semantics dectating our actions.

If teachers were allowed to disciple children the way they used to be, there would be a lot more learning going on. In other countries, ones that have better education outcomes than the US, students are disciplined, teachers are not afraid to be the adult in the classroom. God forbid a teacher try to maintain control of a student here, they would be sued for some stupid offensive made up by the school system or parents. This is where the problem lies as I see it. Let the teachers be in charge of their classrooms!!

I totally agree with you thturd - teachers should be held accountable and also get paid for that accountability. If you start paying higher wages a better class of teacher will emerge. I'm on my third year without a raise - not even a step raise. My union stinks and sleeps with our school district high muk-a-muk. Where I work there is more corruption than not. The good ol' boys reign supreme. I'm on my way out and it can't come sooner. I am not even going to finish out 30 years - I'll make close to 25 - I hope. All teachers start their career wearing rose colored glasses then reality hits. Most of the time there is very little teaching and a whole lot of disciplining - at least at the middle school level. I have taught every grade level in the secondary sector. If teachers were required to have a master's degree within five years of gainful employment, again we would acquire a better class of teacher. I have personally witnessed and heard teachers give lessons unable to pronounce words correctly, unable to explain procedure, unable to answer simple questions. Really? I would have these teachers on the carpet so fast heads would spin. I find it easier to leave than to try and change such a damaged system. I written many things on this subject and feel it would be better for my health to leave and let the chips fall where they may.

Please excuse my errors. I've just had carpal tunnel surgery and two cortisone shots in the other hand.

Jolie,

You are one fine example of the product from our educational system. Heck you can pick any of the 4 choices you wrote...

I know exactly where you are coming from.

Instead of taking the time to identify the root cause of the problem, just push harder and even though the rate of defects will increase, so will the non-defective ones - offsetting the averages to something more eye pleasing.

Abolish the Department of Education - the layers upon layers of NON-TEACHING positions nationwide are sucking up resources that could otherwise be used to fund salaries, educational supplies & technology upgrades.

In my area there are 4-5 school systems all with Superintendents, support staff, multiple schools all with principals.

Each Super earns $100K + (minimum) there is 1/2 million a year over a typical 12 year education cycle thats 6 million saved. Add in 20+ principals all at $75K plus and there is another 1.5 million per year saved - over 12 years 18 million.

This means in my small corner of the USA we could save a minimum of $24 million on NON-Teacher/ Teaching expenses. If we divide this by 5 that is 4.8 Million per 12 years.

There are 14,556 School Districts in the USA, if we can save 4.8 million per 12 years per district - the potential savings would be $69,868,800,000 (BILLION) per educational cycle or $5,822,400,000 per year (5.8 billion).

Now of cource some of this would have to be used to establish REGIONAL SUPERVISION perhaps 1 super per 5 systems and 1 principal for High Schools and maybe a couple for elementary. SO if this equated to an 80% reduction we could still save at current financing levels $4.6 billion annually to work with and to DO BETTER!

Use the surpluses to REWARD TEACHERS on ALL STUDENTS PERFORMANCES.

The DASH FOR CASH that OBAMA and other politicians have consistently held up in front of schools has led to the outrageous increase of "SPECIAL NEEDS" students. For (2) reasons.

(1) It is a way to weed out certain children that require more energy to teach.

(2) It is a seperate funding that is a way around performance criteria.

With stronger local school boards with substantial parental involvement and a reduced management structure standardized tests - criteria based on improvement not comparison - and teacher bonuses tied to improvement. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD BE FINE>

You take entry level 1st graders on day #1 nationwide and they all take the same test. Here is the baseline for each student and each school. Then every year at the conclusion all kids take a test 1st thru 11th grade!

This would set up a system similar to a real business environment. The student IS THE PRODUCT --- PERIOD.

I've gone on far too long here, but this issue drives me absolutely LOONEY TUNES !

As the parent to 5 kids =

Exactly! I have taught at a University level and a good 50% of these folks cannot read well, comprehend, apply proper grammar usage, problem solve, or posess cognitive ability. It is amazing to me, that people are actually proud of this!

When I was in school we had one (1) instructor who taught everything and I have flourished and posess ability. How is it with all the specialties, we cannot teach basic skills? The reason I think is because we spend far too much time pandering to PC and accomodating philosophies, rather than teaching actual skills needed to perform in an ever changing global environment. Honestly, it is the kids that are being hurt the most, with limited further opportunities and their self-esteem being stifled by it.

a.w.

"Our real problem isn't enough graduates, its that our Graduates can't compete with drop-outs from the rest of the world, we do not need to lower standards any further than where they are now..... we need to increase them"

Wrong! All you'll accomplish is lowering the self-esteem of the underachievers. We can't do that. What are you thinking? That's why the institutions work so hard at not keeping scores for soccer games, not giving out Fs, and teaching "whole language". You need to hold down the high achievers so the cannon fodder feels better about themselves. That way they will never have to worry about knowing what it's like to fail. So when they get into the work force they can feel good about themselves even though they have no clue to the actual meaning of the word work. Oh, wait a minute. That's what we have right now. Sorry. Carry on.

To fix the problem with teachers is to get rid of the teachers unions and get rid of tenure. That would be a good start. The teachers that don't teach, fire them!!!! How many other jobs do you know of that is yours for life if you can make it through the first 2 years? They just cruise along until retirement with the minimal amount of effort.

Case in point. We have a teacher here that gives no homework for grades and only three questions on the tests. He doesn't like grading papers and he told the kids he hates teaching. So basically you get all three questions right or you fail. The real kicker is he won't teach so the kids don't know how to work the problems then fails them when they get one question wrong. He has filled the summer school classes with kids trying to replace their failing grades from his class. He should be fired!!!

The school systems here in Ohio believe build new campus style schools and our kids will be smarter because they are in a new surrounding! They do not care about who pays for these new facilities, TAX PAYERS!! As long as they get raises and new this and that they could care less!!

This is a direct result of people pushing so hard to be politically correct or push their viewpoints on others. Back in the 80s if you misbehaved, you got the paddle. Right there in the middle of class. It did no physical damage and I don't know anyone from my graduating class who has psychological issues about it. It did leave the impression that you don't screw around during class.

We got rid of that and now look at schools. This was a result of bleeding heart liberals saying "Do what we say or you're going to jail". Worked great...right?

Besides, Obama isn't very smart apparently or has his information fed to him with people scared to tell him he's wrong. His polls are slipping faster than Bush's did and he's coming out making bully comments like this right after his "this year or never" temper tantrum?

I totally agree the schools are messed up now. I say let the teachers enforce teaching like they used to. If you're lucky, you get the paddle. If you continue disrupting class, you get expelled. At that point it's up to the parents to either buck up and control their deviant children or they'll have to pay for private school. And don't tell me that's unfair to poor families. Income has no effect on how much you let your children walk all over you. It's usually the rich kids that are spoiled rotten anyway.

In my state, the newspapers were filled with stories of municipal employees agreeing to pay freezes...police, firemen, highway departments, clerical workers, town managers, school administrators, cafeteria workers, parks & public works departments, clerks, etc., etc., etc. All working with the taxpayers in their towns to try to keep costs under control a bit during current economic conditions.

I believe that teachers' unions in two or three out of 166 school districts agreed to some type of pay freeze or concession.

In my small town of 9,000 people, every single employee in town took a voluntary pay freeze. The head of the teachers' union in my town said " the time to talk about contracts is when contracts are being negotiated, not now".

When the chips were down, our state's "educators" really showed what they are all about...money and entitlement. These are the same people who'll stuff a flyer into Johnnie's and Janie's book bag urging parents to support the next budget vote, because that vote covers their upcoming pay raise and seldom talked about "step increase" in their paychecks.

Most teacher contracts in our state allow for 15 attainable "step increases" available in a teacher's career. As this year made very clear, even in a horrible economy, teachers SHALL get their pay raises and step increases. So in a 30 year career in a job that calls for about 180-182 actual school days, a teacher can receive up to 45 pay increases that cannot be stopped by man or beast...or economic sickness.

Quite frankly Scarlett...they just don't 'give a damn' about anyone or anything other than their own wallets.

If it's so lucrative, maybe you should have become a teacher.

Nic....

Funny...I did not say it was "lucrative" to have a teacher's job. However, I do not have the luxury in my profession of only working 180 or so days a year with oooh-la-la vacation time, a guaranteed annual raise, and a tenured job for life. So the teacher's paycheck is quite fair for the job description.

Tony... I have been a teacher for 15 years... haven't had a pay increase in the last two years....

Before you go spouting at the mouth of what you know nothing... check your information.

Tony -

Teachers only get paid for 180 days a year too. They do not get paid over the summer. In addition, I have a master's degree. If I were to go into another career in my field, I could easily make double what I make now.

I am a second career teacher. I used to work in a laboratory, conducting research. Even though I have more days off now, I work way more. I begin at 6 am, work through my 25 minute lunch, leave at 3:30, take a few hours off and then grade and/or plan for an average of 2 hours/night. That gives me a work week of 58 hours/week. How many hours a week do you work?

Well Jim, I see your point. Obviously someone passed you and if you reread your text, you will see how I question your ability to respond on this issue, when you can not spell or find the spell check on these postings.

Well, tired, since we're analyzing grammar, the word is "cannot" NOT "can not." One word, not two.

After his remarks about the cops acting "stupidly", I have to wonder if he's more conc erned about the race of the teacher, not the competency. Racial quotas have all but destroyed many urban school systems and have insured failure for many kids even though the Kumbyah moments are many.

Lucy, our president was pulling the race card when he was running for office and he does every time someone doesn't want to do things HIS way. It was just a matter of time until he opened his mouth and made a racist statement like that.

This is what happens when you let the monkeys run the zoo, or in this case, the White House.

Repubicans have other options but they are not being permitted to even submit them in the house. In other words, half the country is not being repersented in Congress.

Noone, is being represented by Congress, the Senate, or the White House! That is the problem! Get rid of the Dipshi*ocrats, and Repukelicans once, & for all, lets send a message that WE THE PEOPLE, are finished, with you the Non representing government!

Joemike404,

You have some great observations about what is, and what the ultimate priority should be "quality education", but I don't agree with your point suggesting the Federal Government is not going in the right direction under Obama's initiatives. I read the article to say factors for improving public education are known, but change is the problem. The Obama administration is trying to effect change for the good by using a monetary incentive. Smart in my opinion. Our government is willing to spend on something of critical importance to this nation's future, but spend wisely. Yes, you didn't fault Obama for this, but you implied it will be same old same old because it is the Federal Government at work. I think this is a brighter and more enlightened Federal Government that is going to do some good. The Republicans, which I used to be, don't want to see Obama's administration succeeed. I hope this will become obvious to all, and hurt them in future elections as being too selfish and narrow minded.

TB 123

Thanks for your comments. Actually, I am a Republican and I do want the Obama administration to succeed if for no other reason then his success is our success. My point about the same old same old referred, not the the administration, but to the bureaucracy which more than likely has not changed very much. I agree that properly administered monetary incentives can be very powerful. Unfortunately the bureaucracy's track record with the stimulus funds lends more credence to my opinion than yours. Understand that I would be delighted to be wrong!

Joe,

Have you heard of the program which was started by a teacher for the disadvantaged student. It couples private schools which are closed down in the summer with teachers and volunteers to take a group of public school students for 6 weeks in the summer and they make learning fun for the kids. This program is funded with private donations. I can not recall the name of the program but it seems like a great idea for ever city and town to start something like this...maybe even a church could do this. Bottom line is it works and these kids are doing better in school after they go through this program.

Beanne, I think it's called Horizons?? I saw it on the "news" last night.

I'm an independent who is no fan of Obama's by any means, but I do like that he wants to hold teachers to task if their students are doing poorly. Why invest a ton of money into a broken system if they aren't even willing to consider pay for performance? Of course, he is all for unions, and that is exactly what unions fight for… equal pay no matter what your performance. I've always thought tenure for teachers was crazy, and I'd like to see the teachers be told that if they don't do their job, they are out. I don't really trust him to keep his word, but I have hopes that maybe he'll hold them to task on some of this.

Now… I don't agree with him on everything. He stated during his campaign that part of the solution was to get kids into school at the age of 3, when in reality, we don't fall behind other countries in grades until junior high, and we fall even further behind in high school. We're actually ahead in elementary. It isn't a matter of starting them earlier. It's a matter of finding out why we're slipping when the kids hit preadolescence, and I'm positive some of this falls on the parents and not just the schools.

My sister was a teacher in an inner-city school, and she played a key role in implementing programs that resulted in the kids grades increasing dramatically in a short time. The school won awards for their work. The principle changed, and the school fell flat. My sister eventually left for a larger, more funded school district. She hated to leave, but she did not have the support from the principle or the parents, which made her job impossible. She recently stopped teaching to be an at-home-mom (my sweet little nephew), but she loved the last school she was working for because the parents were involved and cared.

I don't think that just throwing money at something will work, and I do believe the issue is much bigger than just our teachers. However, if the threat of withholding money encourages our schools to strive to do better and to be creative in their approach, then ok… lets just be responsible and not blow our money on something that hasn't been thoroughly researched, discussed, and reviewed appropriately.

I'm just happy to hear him say that he won't invest money into something that refuses to change for the better. For once… he isn't saying 'lets just spend spend spend and hope for the best.'

sharpie, the only reason why these people posting are complaining is because Obama is the doing this. if John McCain or Sarah Palin endorced this they would be all for it.

What sort of ass are you?

And this is why I came out of retirement to work and pay for private school for my grandson.

ThunderProof. 3rdpartyadvocate. John-385319.

Three smart people.

If you don't believe the NEA has great influence on your children then I suspect you're not paying much attention to what they are being taught in schools now-a-days.

Abso-freakin-lutely. If anyone doesn't believe it, just look at how prayer was removed from schools and the life of Jesus is 1 sentence in the history books now. That's an atheist left viewpoint of < 10% of the country and somehow it flew right on through to the schools. It's basically brain washing and explains alot of the younger peoples arguments for liberalism or socialism when they can't even answer simple questions or state one example to back up their argument.

Teecher? Obama must have been your "teecher" grammar and punctuation, don't seem to be his strong suit either! Ask him for his transparent school records, by not producing them he is breaking the law(some lawyer). School transcripts are PUBLIC RECORD!

Did you miss the part of the article where one of the stated goals of this program was to INCREASE the number of good charter schools? Or another goal where it was stated that the money would not be available to those states who were not willing to make changes to their current, non-productive systems? A good secular charter school removes all the angst involved with the voucher program. No one quibbles over whether the government should be paying into a religious program. The key issue is to ensure the school properly educates our children.

A good secular school where kids are brainwashed like public schools. We have to ensure that 5 year olds think homosexual acts are normal. I have to answer my grandsons question * can gay people have babies*. You mean the only good charter schools would be those run by liberals?

PS I told my grandson every gay person on the planet has a mother female and father male. Even if made in a culture dish.

3rdparty....

You are correct....the press has given Mr. Obama a pass on the DC schools' voucher program. If George Bush had done what Obama did, the press would have painted him as a racist who does not want to help inner city DC kids get a quality education.

As per usual, Mr. Obama gets a pass. What a joke!!!

Fst Ede you nailed it, sad we somehow put up with this @!$%# shame on us

Fst Ede - the strategy of this "liberal Progressive" administration is to 'dumb down' our citizenry, so the end result will be we are incapable of thinking for ourselves. When that point is reached, everyone will feel that the GOVERNMENT knows what's best for us, and therefore should control and make all of our decisions.

If BO and his idealogical administration are successful, America fails. Do the people of this country REALLY want to give up our freedom? I don't.

2012 can't come soon enough. I hope the damage he's causing isn't irreversible.

Just by reading some of the terrible grammar in the posts, you can tell the state of the public school system.

This is why I homeschool

Just by reading some of the terrible grammar in the posts, you can tell the state of the public school system.

This is the Internet. Fragmented sentences and misspelled words are going to be common.

The education system has been in a long downward spiral for at least 20 years. The system moved away from the basics and started the dumbing down programs and everybody is the same attitude.

Children get a pat on the back if they can't read or solve a math problem. It is now let the child write their own version of the word and estimate the answer. There are scores of problems wrong with the education system across the country.

Fst Ede.....now THAT'S breaking it down to understandable terms. And you couldn't be more correct. The 5 posters following your comments are equally correct in seeing the problems with today's liberal school system. The cream can no longer rise to the top and our kids are being programmed to be stupid followers.

Or, on the nukesters behalf, run on sentences!

Exactly why good teachers leave propagandizing systems.

dal, Now I've heard everything. It's Bushes fault that colleges and Universities have raised their tuition's. These are private entities who do just about anything they want and raising tuition is one of them. That's how they pay for new facilities and the outrageous amounts of money they pay their socialist Professors. This is also how they provide free tuition to Illegal Aliens. How is the cost of tuition Bushes fault again. I know he is responsible for some of our problems, but how can you blame him for the cost of tuition at these institutions, get real.

Bush is gone...your "messiah" is in charge...try to keep up...

Since NCLB, Maryland's school have steadily increased math and english test scores across the board.

The number one issue is crappy parenting. When a kid start first grade two years behind thier peers, doesn't do homework, and will miss 2-3 years of class over the next 12, there is NOTHING a teacher can do.

Secondly, kids must be pushed towards technical skills that require math and science, not liberal art classes. That's where the better paying jobs are.

Cost of BIG MAC rose 18% during Bush Regime:

In a stunning turn of events, it has been discovered that George Bush and his Republican cronies have strong armed the powerhouse MacDonals's into raising their prices. No longer is a "Dollar Value Menu" item going to cost a dollar. Perhaps the most shocking detail, this massive price increase has happened in the last 90 days, under the current Obama administration. The political clout, prowess, and power that the Bush administration still holds reaches far into the private sector. Our lives will be ruined forever by Bush and his cronies.

The sad thing is, people will believe this statement.

dal,

Bottom line...no act in congress is going to make our kids perfome better in school."All great change in America begins at the dinner table" ( Ronals Reagan)..and unfortunatly the American family is dwindeling fast and furious..with dead beat dads and moms and children left alone never mind left behind were NEVER gonna fix this problem if folks don't get back to basics...thats God-Family and Country.

God Bless and God help America!

What sucks about the Dollar menu is, with tax, it cost a $1.05.

One of these days I'm going in there WITH a single dolalr and order something. When they ask for the nickel tax, I am calling 911 (for my 15 minutes of shame).

Beanne, been saying that myself for years!

dal,

I think you're main premise regarding a college education is wrong. Not everybody is college material. If it costs a lot of money to go to college I look at that as a good thing. If you really, really want to attend college and get a degree you can if you work really, really hard. Excel in high school, get involved with the community, work a job and save money, apply for grants and scholarships, and you should be able to get into a good college. While you're there get a part time job, keep your grades up, and do what you have to do and you will more than likely get a degree. Guess what? That's a lot of work a lot of "kids" don't want to do. With the entitlement society we have today they believe they are owed a college eduction. Oh, and by the way. I never went to college. I realized I would not have flourished in that environment. It wasn't for me.

Sven, good point. Most kids are handed everything, and when they get out of College, they have ZERO work ethic.

$1.05? Where do you live? I wish my taxes were only 5%. A dollar meal here is $1.07. I feel cheated!

LOL another liberal trying to blame private practices on Bush or just try to divert attention from his own parties failings. Too bad some liberals actually believe this stuff and can't be bothered to look up who is in charge of what in the name of party bashing. At least some of us understand the difference in the 3 houses, states, and private sector. If we all thought like you, I'd be blaming Obama for my boss's policies at work today.

;

If you love your parents and grandparents, you don't want health care on Obama's terms.

no one-1078510. Could you please explain your thoughts a little better? Lexi, your absolutely right, Obama, is not disclosing the facts of having universal health care, all I will say is do your homework, look up nations that have social medicine, and see the ridiculous taxes they have to pay for those so called services! So America, are you ready to give close to half your paycheck for Obamas little health care reform? You honestly think this will only affect the rich? If you believe the words coming out of this twits mouth, I seriously suggest a Cat Scan!

skeptic,

you just made me realize something. After we pump all this money into the schools who's going to hold them accountable for results? I'm thinking it will go the way of the stimulus web site. Remember that? "We want to know if those roads are being worked on, those bridges are being built and repaired". It's like the guy in the office that has all the great ideas. Keeps coming up with the ideas but doesn't do anything to further them or implement them. "Hey I'm just the idea guy".

Yes, the Idea guy, that is leading America to the poor house at an alarming rate! I can't understand why so many people actually believe this idiot is looking out for our interests, he is merely paying back all the loans that got his worthless ass elected! Worse yet, he is using our money to do it, better wake up people, were running out of money, and time!

You might as well have school 12 months a year. Parents don't wait for school holidays for vacations any more. I'm not buying that you need to take your kids out of school so that they can go to Disneyland. I see that happen frequently.

Good post, TomK. Dumbing down to socialism has been in our schools for years now. Ever since the liberal agenda has infiltrated and then taken over teaching in our schools. This agenda is winning because the people today are products of those socialistic schools and now know nothing of the real America or how to think for themselves. Guess what? The old days actually WERE better.

All I will say, if this idiot is a 2 term, then we are finished as a Nation! That's change you can believe in!

By 2012 the kids may have no reason left to get a college education. Why spend a hundred grand on a doctorate when the only jobs left are the low-tech jobs that aren't overseas due to corporations being taxed out of the country? The ones that stay will probably fail due to the continuation of bad business practices and rewarding themselves with a taxpayer funded bonus.

Liberals want to get rid of R&D in national defense, they're effectively trying to kill research of new medications/treatments by just buying from other countries who copied the ideas, they're just watching the industrial sector fall apart, and the trade agreements Clinton gave us makes us unable to compete with prices of overseas sweat shops for end products. The future is bleak. I don't even know what kind of advice to give my 8 yr old niece. They're even telling them at that age how wonderful Obama is and how things will be free.

That will never happen, he would lose much needed votes!

best answer yet.

BINGO!, Juan. It's really that simple. We need to excise ALL unnecessary government garbage. If we did...we would have more money than we would know what to do with.

Juan-583296. Well said!

That's not hard to do, when someone else pays the tab!

AMEN! The problem with student achievement starts way before they even enter our schools. Parents have to take on some responsibility in their child's education or any effort by a teacher is only a band-aid. Are there some bad teachers out there? Definitely. Should teachers be held accountable? Definitely. Is student achievement a way to judge a teacher's performance? Definitely NOT! Too many people who know nothing about what it's like to be in education TODAY are giving their opinions and making decisions about "what's best" for education. Maybe these politicians need to spend some time in low performing schools to see what teachers are really dealing with.

You are absolutely right. Home is the first school. Penalizing teachers whose students don't perform will create a climate of hostility in schools.

Parents are a big part of the problem.

But how do you judge teachers?

There are a whole bunch of ads in New York about how their pay has increased. And what has this accomplished?

They want to be paid like full time employees, but they only work 150 days a year vs. the 240 which most other people work.

I have been teaching for 21 years. I did not start out my career as a teacher because in NC pay was below poverty level. Over the years I have seen one program, "guaranteed" to improve student achievement, after another come down the line. There are a number of things that nonteachers should know about teachers.

1) We have, throughout history, worked for very little pay in relation to the amount of work we do.

2) We accomplish more in 9 months and work more hours a day than most other professions do in a whole year. So don't begrudge us a few weeks in the summer.

3)We continue to struggle for the status of "professional". Those who can't.....teach... right?

4) As public school teachers we must take everyone. We can't turn little Johnny away because he only has one parent or he is being raised by an elderly grandmother, neither of which has the time, will, nor energy to help Johnny with his spelling words. We have no control over what goes on at home. If Obama wants to improve education then he should empower parents to practice good parenting.

5) Basing teacher pay on performance is like basing dentist pay on cavities. If a child shows up in his office at 15 and has never seen a dentist, his parents never taught him or provided the tools to brush his teeth, how many cavities will he have? Now give him 150 of those and tell him that he won't get paid if there are too many cavities.

6) Teachers who teach honors classes will always get better pay and those of us who struggle with regular or low achieving students will not. What kind of work environment do you think that will foster? How many teachers will leave the profession because they don't dare take on a low performing school?

7) I hate NCLB because all we do is test. We spend so much time teaching the test that we can't give students the time to explore a topic that is interesting to them. We can't allow teachers to be creative because we might not "cover all of the TEKS".

Wilman, I agree that parents are a huge problem.

I also agree that judging teachers is difficult. But eventually some of the responsibility of learning is going to have to fall back onto the parents and students themselves. Teachers can present the material in a myraid of ways, but until little Suzie starts doing her homework and participating in class, her teacher shouldn't HAVE to give her passing grades, nor should that teacher be held responsible for that student's failure.

I feel the need, however, to enlighten you about our educators in the public school system. Our teachers are on contract 187 days. They come in an hour early and often stay late to offer tutoring without additional pay. They get one prep period during the day, but it is usually spent covering someone else's class because there are so few competent substitute teachers in the district. Because of this, they take home papers to grade and create their lesson plans on their own time. Every time Washington decides the school system needs revamping, our teachers end up with more paperwork and are required to jump through more hoops in order to prove they are worthy of keeping their jobs. Yes, they have time off during the summer. However, there are curriculum trainings and AP training sessions to attend. In addition, the pay isn't THAT fabulous, which is why most teachers do it for love of the children. Most parents would gladly pay a babysitter $5 an hour to take good care of their child, educate that child, and keep that child engaged during the day. Hmmm--let's calculate, shall we? 30 students per hour at 5 bucks...well, would you look at that? That's $150 an hour! With 6 classes per day, that teacher would be making $900.00 a day! Oh--wait!!! And they are contracted for 187 days--that's an annual salary of $168, 300!!!

I assure you that the teachers in our district are making a mere FRACTION of that!

Let's not be hasty in thinking that the teaching gig is nothing more than standing in front of a group of bright-eyed eager learners for a few hours, going home, and having a free summer.

Many school teachers are dealing with gangsters and drug dealers, spoiled little rich kids who think they are above the rules, Advanced Placement students who refuse to turn in work, and students who are labeled with special education needs with individualized educational plans attached to them which ALLOWS them to spit at students, throw things in class, and curse, while the teacher goes through a series of 39 steps drafted by a lawyer before the student can be removed from class. And yet, the goverment tells the teachers THEY are failing.

Seams like a good approach to me, if the teachers don't want to achieve then how will the students?

this is just a thought I think that I see the problem with the Republicans; seams like they are against, everything! when you cannot work with others, and are against everything, you achieve nothing, also they are afraid to agree with anything even if it is a good thing, THEY HAVE EARNED THE TITLE OF THE PARTY OF NO!

When abroad those from foreign lands tend to speak more highly of their country and , how things are better out of national pride. Keep this in mind. Oh and by the way if we are so educationally disadvantaged why do foreign citizens come to America for College. You also might want to change that name "hoofarted" so that your posts would be taken seriously. I suspect that your immaturity may be the cause of why it is so easy.

dale...we aren't the party of "no". We are the party of KNOW. We only say no to socialism and communism and those that support it. Those like you.

dale-763548

Seams like a good approach to me, if the teachers don't want to achieve then how will the students?

this is just a thought I think that I see the problem with the Republicans; seams like they are against, everything! when you cannot work with others, and are against everything, you achieve nothing, also they are afraid to agree with anything even if it is a good thing, THEY HAVE EARNED THE TITLE OF THE PARTY OF NO!

dale-763548. I guess you really need an education. Seams? Are you thinking of your pants to start a sentence(maybe out of them)? Or, you don't know it is "seems" that you were needing to start a sentence? Actually, if you wanted to try and sound educated(as all liberals think they are). Then you should have started with, It would seem, teachers that do not want to achieve, will pass that on to other students.Then again, after reading many of your mindless post's, I can see why no one really gives you much attention dale. The Government has no business telling any state what they can, or cannot teach. Also, using OUR MONEY to threaten them into submission, is also B.S. But, then again someone like you has no idea what this actually means to the people of the United States, now do you ? Its called totalitarian control buddy, look that word up, for your mighty messiah Obama is trying like hell to force us all down that path! I'll pass!

I'd be the party of "No Socialism, thanks" than the party of "Yes sir Mr President! Take my freedom and money please! I don't know what to do with it and neeeeeed youuuu!"

I agree with you, Tired-of-BS. As a Republican, I am FOR a lot of things. I am for strong, healthy families; strong moral values; strong ethical values; well-behaved, respectful, functional, emotionally-healthy students; caring teachers; supportive school administration; proper rules and regulations; obeying the law; freedom; States' rights; We the People; the Republic; the Constitution of the United States; God and Country; small government; capitalism; justice; the hard-working; helping the poor; and a lot of other things. I am strongly against totalitarianism in any form. Americans made a big mistake when they allowed the federal ('central' as the communists say) government to run their lives. What goes on with my children is MY business, and that includes educating them. We've allowed the subversive, communist forces within our country to obtain high levels of power and control. They have modeled our education system after those of other communist countries, and here is where we find ourselves now - under the grip of this current regime.

When abroad those from foreign lands tend to speak more highly of their country and , how things are better out of national pride. Keep this in mind. Oh and by the way if we are so educationally disadvantaged why do foreign citizens come to America for College. You also might want to change that name "hoofarted" so that your posts would be taken seriously. I suspect that your immaturity may be the cause of why it is so easy.

Joe, these students were from different countries. They weren't remarking out of national pride, they were making an observation. When I was in the navy stationed overseas, my children went to the local school for two years. Those schools put up with no BS and provided a quality education. This I observed firsthand. As for your last comment, I don't understand how my name and my level of maturity have anything to do with our educational system. Just a chance for you to call names I guess. I'll explain my name to you, and I'll type it very slow so you will understand: When you walk into a room and something smells bad, most will just ignore it. Some of us will point it out instead of going along with the lemmings. If you still don't understand, then I'm sorry. I can then guess where you got your education.

What I notice about Obama more and more; he DEMANDS change, uses treats and punitive damages to force that agenda, but clearly does not have a designated path or a format with milestones in place to see if it is clearly working. In other words, what is his grand plan to achieve the result? He lays it on everyone else.

Chris, that is because he thinks he is a "dictator" He is not a leader, he clearly has no plan or he would provide it along with his demands. Perhaps they did not teach that at the schools he went to. He is insensitive domineering and controling that equals a dictator. He is performing the same process with the health reform, He has not a clue however his hinchmen lead him on. He has BS'd his way to the clearly viewed Peter Principle!!