As President Obama acknowledged in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, the American people tend to regard much of what goes on in Washington, DC, with a skeptical eye. But there was a moment during Obama's looong (is it over yet?) speech that, as the parent of two kids attending public elementary school, I found myself wanting to stand up and cheer. Actually, come to think of it, there were a few of them.
Here are five things the President said about education that parents of kids of all ages -- K through college -- can celebrate. (If Washington lawmakers can manage to work out a deal to make them happen, that is -- which is, of course, a big if.)
1. A big shout-out for teachers: "We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies -- just to make a difference. Teachers matter."
2. A pledge to kick "teaching to the test" to the curb: "Let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. In return, grant schools flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn."
3. A push for new efforts keep kids in high school until they graduate: "We also know that when students aren’t allowed to walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. So tonight, I call on every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen."
4. A call to help families pay for college with more affordable student loans and other financial aid options: "At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July. Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves middle-class families thousands of dollars. And give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years."
5. A plea to states and schools to keep tuition costs down: "States ... need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down .... So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury -- it’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford."
Hear, hear! Facing years of fighting for your kids' education -- better elementary schools, more affordable colleges, etc. -- is daunting. It's nice to know that parents' concerns are on the agenda. Let's hope some of those items on the education wish list actually do come true.
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What did you think of President Obama's statements about education in his State of the Union speech?
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Comments 15
It's always nice to hear from a politician who actually gives a damn about the future of this country.
I've never been a huge fan of the man, but I whole heartedly agree with this!
I think the "talk" was great, and obviously it worked because here you are cheering him. But talk - especially his talk - is cheap.
He's in bed with Teacher Unions, so " replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn." isn't going to happen - he isn't going to risk losing the votes.
"I call on every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen." - He has no control over this. He may as well call on every state to require kids to obey their parents.
give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years."
Again, not something within his control.
And this one make me laugh right out loud - oh, the hypocrisy!!!! "So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down."
Uh-huh. If you, Mr. President, can't stop the deficit from going up, the support you get from taxpayers will go down! Whoot!
We need to stop idolizing teachers, and place them where they belong: right alongside the rest of the people in this country who do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Unfortunately, we have put these people on such a high pedestal that any mention of cutting back on pensions so there is money for actual educational spending is met with shocked screeching from those who chant the following:
"Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives."
I'll bet that phrase is true, but not in the way that Obama means it. I can tell you that I had two such teachers... one was a tenured college "professor". He gave me such deplorable advice (yes, he was my advisor) that my college degree is worth less than the dirt on the floor I'm standing on.
And the second was my 7th Grade Algebra Teacher, who so traumatized me that I STILL have nightmares of standing at the chalkboard in her class attempting to solve an equation, while she screamed in my ear that I was too stupid to live, that I was no more conscious than a rock and would never be worth anything.
Some teachers deserve mountains of respect. Others deserve to be fired. And no fraction of their salary or benefits should be exempt from the chopping block when our children's futures are on the line. If it's a choice between a teacher's retirement or books for the kids - the books should win. A teacher can find another job, and invest her own damn money.
As a high school English teacher, I honestly think it's too easy for people to become teachers . It's decent pay for a short time in college . A lot of my colleagues became teachers because it was quick and simple and not because they love their job .
When I visted Japan, I learned that teachers are not only respected - they're honored, because they are the ones who are inspiring and teaching children, who are ultimately the future . Poor teachers mean poor students . I know what it's like to have terrible teachers - I can say I've had only a handful myself that were helpful or kind or exemplary .
I don't think teachers are idolized - if anything, we're walked all over, all the time . I do my best to teach my students, even digging into my own pocket to provide materials . I go out of my way to help these kids pass . I don't think I should be payed the same amount as some other teachers, who let their students watch movies all class and could care less whether they are learning or not . And I definitely don't think that I should be more at-risk for being fired than a shitty teacher who has 'tenure' .
I hope Obama sticks with us ... the good teachers are all too often taken for granted .
Hoticedcoffee stated it so well!
The man gives a great pep talk, but when it comes to putting those words into action, he is still sitting in the corner twiddling his thumbs.
Oh dear God, are the people commenting on this article aware that the role of President isn't a dictatorship? He can only do so much, and most of what he tries to do (especially if it's something that will actually HELP the country) is cut down by the Republicans in power. People complain that President Obama isn't doing enough, but refuse to accept that the reason more isn't being done is the Republicans that these same complainers have voted into power block everything he tries to do. Damn hypocrites. Don't like how the country is going? It was your votes that did it. Take some damn responsibility.
Oh, it only he would have clicked his heels 3 times after his speech then maybe this would come true!!! Please! He has been saying this same stuff for 4 years - during his last campaign and look, it is campaign time again! He hasn't done a thing for education in 3 years - why start in year 4? Is the attitude, better late than never? He can't control what colleges do or even dept of education of each state. Come on people. cheering for this stuff is like cheering for a soccer team on Mars - neither are real.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he has been in office for years now and hasn't done any of that yet. I will rejoice it when he actually does something besides talk about it.