Sen. Hillary Clinton receives loud applause /86th NEA Representative Assembly

[Alamom]

Clinton decries problems with NCLB at NEA RA








http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting/raaction/07clintonspeech.html

News from the NEA Annual Meeting
July 2, 2007

Clinton decries problems with NCLB at NEA RA
Education policy decisions based on evidence, not the "test after test after test" of No Child Left Behind is the way to reform schools, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) said Monday to loud applause from the 86th NEA Representative Assembly.

Watch a video clip of Clinton's speech.
NEA Members may also view an archived version of Clinton's full speech (requires log-in).


"We need a new approach," Sen. Clinton said. "One that is balanced—that puts learning, not memorizing and testing, front and center in American education again," adding, "it's time that we start supporting educators and quit pointing fingers. We should reward teachers when schools show achievement gains. We can't do this unless we finally fix what is wrong with No Child Left Behind."

In the current reality where children are taking so many tests that it's becoming the de facto curriculum, they are being robbed of a well-rounded education that includes social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. "Our children are getting good at filling in those little bubbles," she said. "But how much creativity is being left behind? How much passion for learning is being left behind?"

[William769]

1. Great read, thanks!

K&R!

[elizm]

2. But did she bring them to their feet....

...the way Obama did??

[elizm]

3. Hillary's unmoving speech...

Watch from the link. She read from notes in front of her. No passion whatsoever. And no LOUD applause that I heard. No comparison to Obama who brought them to their feet!

http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting/raaction/07candidates.html

[ccpup]

4. let me guess

you support Obama, right?

[elizm]

5. Well, of course....but...

that doesn't negate the fact that there was no comparison between the two speeches.

[ccpup]

6. well, sure, but ...

you're naturally predisposed to not like Hillary and cast what Obama does in a more positive light. Because of this, you may not be the most objective source to judge these two particular candidates. We always tend to forgive "our" candidates failings, excuse their "failures" and harshly judge the other candidate's performances. It's basic human nature.

[elizm]

7. I spoke only of THIS speech...

I did not judge the candidates themselves in my reply, as you are implying. Hillary read from her notes. Obama never looked down once....a clear and striking difference when you view the two clips. Obama's words and passion brought the educators (a group to which I belong) to their feet. That is the point I was making.

[ccpup]

8. okay

Obama is MUCH better than any candidate that has ever lived, will ever live and will ever exist in history. His passion is the most passionate and small children weep with unabashed joy when he walks by, his perfect smile beaming good health, joy and good fortune upon the huddled masses. And there's a statue of him, I've heard, that miraculously heals all who gaze upon his beatific visage. The lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear and Republicans throw off the yolk of their Masters and start voting (D) on election day (a true miracle).

You're right. Obama is MUCH better.

:-)

(please understand that I'm just having a bit of fun with this. No harm intended)

[elizm]

9. A little 'touchy' don't you think?

Perhaps a bit of over-reaction to a simple post about an observation of one speech?

[ccpup]

10. oh my

don't tell me that DU has completely and totally lost it's collective sense of humor!

[ccpup]

12. then again

I did tell you parenthetically that it was done in good humor, so I can't blame myself for your obvious inability to 1) recognize I was having fun and 2) read the disclaimer that clearly stated I was having fun.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

11. Where's the beef?

How about comparing their substance and not just their style? The key difference between Obama and every other Democrat on education seems to be his support of the conservative Republican idea of "merit pay", championed by the likes of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and Mitt Romney. The latter two championed it in education (* did it for federal workers), like Obama.