On Education, Obama Blows It

[LWolf]

I know it's a dangerous endeavor to object to Obama at DU. At least, for those who fear virtual flames from the faithful.

OH WELL.


Gerald Bracey

Fellow at the Education Policy Studies Laboratory at Arizona State University
Posted February 25, 2009 | 12:29 AM (EST)


<snip>

I have not the expertise to address the merits of President Obama's speech to Congress on the issues of the economy. I do claim some expertise on education. He blew it.

He accepted the same garbage that the propagandists, fear mongers such as Lou Gerstner, Bill Gates, Roy Romer, Bob Wise, Craig Barrett and many others--God help us, Arne Duncan?--have been spewing for years.

Obama said, ""Right now, three quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma, and yet just over half of our citizens have that level of education." Scary, huh? Not really. This statistic was a favorite of ex secretary of education of education Margaret Spellings, about whom we can all express a sigh of relief that the operative word is, "ex."

If you look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics stats on job projections, it is almost true (but not really) that what Obama said is right. But there are two hugely compromising factors that make this statistic much less fearsome that it first appears:

More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-bracey/on-education-obama-blows_b_169715.html

[marmar]

1. You know, you'd probably get a more rational, less-rancorous discussion of your topic.....

if you didn't start your post with such a strident statement: "I know it's a dangerous endeavor to object to Obama at DU. At least, for those who fear virtual flames from the faithful."

Why alienate people before the discussion even begins? :shrug:

[LWolf]

4. Good point.

Perhaps because, in the last 2 years, I've learned to come out fully armored every time I bring up opposition to the man.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. I cringed at the "increase funding

of Charter Schools." We've had 2 charter schools in this area that were closed down because the people in charge were embezzling money. Charter schools just don't have the oversight that district schools do so they tend to not only be a little lose with the money but it's not unusual to shove faith-based shit in there as well.

And remember, his Secretary of Education was an abject FAILURE at essentially the same job in Illinois.

[LWolf]

5. That, too.

One of the reasons I've been opposed to his education agenda from the beginning.

Charter schools aren't going to save the nation. If we want our students to have choice, we quit forcing standardization on the rest of our public schools and allow them to offer choices in focus, methodology, etc..

We don't give some schools more opportunity than others, or more freedom than others.

[madrchsod]

6. he was on a mission to bust the teachers union and he almost did

bill ayers has some interesting comments on new secretary of education.he said that basically the reforms came from the grassroots in the neighborhoods not from the office downtown. the only thing the new secretary reformed was creating a two class educational system in chicago.

ya there`s real reform ya can believe in...

[Belial]

7. The difference between charter schools and public schools

is that in charter schools the embezzling is in the thousands.. in public schools.. it is in the MILLIONS...

[madrchsod]

3. i agree with gerald.....

my daughter did`t graduate from high school..she got her ged. before the crash she was making 14 an hour,a first responder,and had over 12 hours credit in osha training. she was on the safety committee and was the second shift "worker representative" during the iso certification. when she goes back she`ll be taking more community college courses pertaining to her employment. all this was/will be paid by her employer.

education as it is practiced in the united states is failing and i doubt there will be no real change with the current secretary of education.

[Odin2005]

8. I know this opinion won't be popular with many DUs, especially those that are educators...

...but I think the educational system is FUNDAMENTALLY broken and BOTH the shills for standardized testing AND teacher's unions that have degenerated into mere interest groups defending the status quo are part of the problem. There, I did it, I criticized the Holy Teacher's Union so I know I'll be flamed, I don't care.

[LWolf]

9. No flames.

I don't think my union is standing in the way of reform. I appreciate them today, since it's my Democratic Governor who suggested that we all ought to finish out the year working for "free" to balance the budget.

Having been an advocate for substantive, local reform based on empowering the stakeholders, the parents, students, and teachers as partners, for 25 years, I have to say that I haven't found unions to be the obstacle.

Politicians and budget, yes.

Status quo that resists change, yes.

A system that perpetuates dysfunction, yes.

I'm on board for profound changes to all of those things, and I don't think it's my union holding us back.

There are a few changes I'd like to see that they would probably object to, but I think those objections could be overcome.

[roody]

11. CTA (California Teachers Association) is a great union

They offer members the latest in good teaching techniques. The status quo now is testing without end---weeks of testing per school year. Unfortunately, the union has not fought this travesty. Other than that, they are at the forefront of many progressive ideas and issues.

[roody]

10. He used the word 'achievement' to mean test scores.

That is NCLB bullshit.

[LWolf]

12. Yes. nt

[olegramps]

13. Why in the hell are some of you putting it on the teachers?

Its the damn lack of concern and input by the lazy parents that is the cause of poor student achievement. Too many families are so caught up with their whirlwind social life that their is no time even to sit down and have dinner together. I have spent time with one of my grandchildren and I am very impressed with the quality of the materials that are being presented. However, it takes time to read them and understand their message.

I have graduate degrees in chemistry and engineering and I have to sit down and go through the material before helping my grandson. There are many children that succeed in the public schools, but the key is parental involvement. Charter schools are nothing more than a Trojan Horse designed to destroy the public schools. If they succeed then I will guarantee that they will be heading toward a second rate education especially in the sciences because of the cost of up to date science labs.

Just how many of those versed in science are available for the thousands of charter and religious schools that it will take to replace the public school system. In regard to religious schools I am adamantly opposed to the use of my tax dollars for religious indoctrination. Especially, when some Islamic schools actually teach that the Republic should be replaced by a Theocracy.

[LWolf]

15. All good points.

To answer your question, "why are some of you putting it all on the teachers," I'd say it's because the decades of right-wing anti-education propaganda has born fruit, and not just among the right-wing and republicans.

When you hear it repeatedly, it becomes a part of "conventional wisdom," regardless of truth.

You are correct about Charter schools; they are a baby step to make vouchers more comfortable and legitimate.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. President Barack Obama is going to read over 3500 letters a year - make yours one of them

.
.
.

He's also a quick study - he can't be expected to get on top of ALL the issues in one month

trust him - I he think he'll do the right thing . .

[greenbriar]

16. yup

don' t like his Education plans at all


not at all

[LWolf]

17. He sent the first one back unread.

Or, to be more accurate, one of his aides did.

Why? Because I sent a book about education policy along with the letter, to lend weight to the points I made.

It wasn't a "gift." It was information. Sent the day before election day, congratulating him on winning (my prediction, lol,) making some points about education, and offering him documentation.

It came back unopened. The LETTER wasn't even opened or read.

I've thought about sending it back, cutting out a few pages at a time, but why?

If he really cared what teachers had to say, he wouldn't have appointed Arne Duncan.