Obama readies new focus on education

[babylonsister]

And as usual, the rethugs have no interest in cooperating. So much for being concerned about future generations.


Obama readies new focus on education
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press


President Barack Obama is putting education overhaul at the forefront of his agenda as he prepares for his State of the Union address and adjusts to the new reality of a divided government. But trouble signs are already emerging.

Despite a bipartisan consensus in favor of more flexibility for students and teachers, political pressures from the coming 2012 presidential campaign and disputes over timing, money and scope loom over a debate affecting millions -- the overdue renewal of the nation's governing education law, known as No Child Left Behind.

For all the talk in Washington that education might offer the best chance for the White House to work with Republicans, any consensus could swiftly evaporate in the capital's pitiless political crosscurrents, leaving the debate for another day, perhaps even another presidency.

American parents, teachers and students would be left laboring under a burdensome set of testing guidelines and other rules that many agree are pushing standards lower instead of bringing them up. And frightening statistics would continue to pile up about how American students are being outpaced by their foreign counterparts in key areas like math and science.

It's that specter that Obama and members of his administration intend to use to try to marshal public support and spur balky lawmakers and quarreling interest groups into action against long odds.

snip//

Some in the GOP, wary of another giant bill like health care, would prefer a series of small measures to the sweeping rewrite of No Child Left Behind favored by the administration. Democrats and many outside advocates say Congress must enact any major education overhaul this year, before the 2012 campaign swings into gear. But some Republicans say getting it right is more important than getting it fast, and they refuse to spend any new money to do it.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2011/01/15/D9KOM1102_us_obama_education/index.html

[callous taoboy]

1. I am worried, as an educator, that with the MEpublicans controlling the House

they will position themselves to gut funding for education while maintaining, or even increasing, the madness of NCLB.


:scared:

[MadHound]

2. Oh God, everything education that Obama touches winds up in disaster,

This does not bode well. Instead of renewing or rewriting NCLB, why don't they do what the experts in the field want done, let NCLB go the way of the dinosaurs.

[Exilednight]

3. I don't really care about the thoughts of Republicans in relation to education, they're

just going to push bad policy. On the other hand, Obama needs to dump Duncan and let every child left behind die a slow and painful death. And let's be honest, race to the bottom has done nothing to improve our education system.

Just a thought, but how about looking to countries like Japan and China who are kicking our ass in education and molding our education system into an American version of the proven Asian system?

Oh wait, now I remember, we're taking incremental steps towards privatizing our schools beginning with charter schools.