My Views on the Educational Plans of Barack Obama and John McCain
Whose Plan Holds More Promise?
Among social issues, education is the most important to me. As a mother, I want my children to receive the best opportunities available when it comes to learning. However, were I not a mother, education would still be the most important issue to me. Why? It is the children of today who will be running the world tomorrow. If they are not properly educated, how are they going to do that?
Barack Obama made statements in his acceptance speech that he would hold teachers more accountable. While most teachers work very hard, I agree that there needs to be more accountability. When a country has 15-year-old students that do worse on average in science and math than students of the same age in 30 other countries, that is a big problem. Of course, not all the blame of poor education can go to the teachers, but surely some may.
Another problem with the poor performance of students could lie in the way the education system is designed. The NCLB, while brought about with the right intentions, was probably not the right solution, when examining the scores of students, like those mentioned above.
At BarackObama.com/issues/education, anyone can clearly read that Barack Obama has plans to reform NCLB, hold teachers accountable and increase the salaries of those who take that accountability, as well as bring math and science education to the forefront. For me, those factors alone speak volumes and that isn't even a fraction of Barack's education plan.
John McCain's education plan looks to me to continue the focus on NCLB, which in my mind, does not seem to be the correct answer, judging by test scores and failing schools. He did mention in his speech that parents would have more choice in where their children attend schools, which is a good option to have. However, should parents really have to put their children through the process of switching schools all the time, just to find "the right one" - the one with quality education?
In my opinion, they shouldn't. That could get too stressful for the children and for the parents. Also, not all people will have access to transportation to switch schools, even if they want to. Then, they are just stuck with a school that isn't up to par. Holding teachers to a higher standard seems a better plan because it would help ensure that all schools, not just those in better neighborhoods, would have the chance to be a "good school" and provide quality education.
My own children are currently homeschooled, due to many, many factors, including the failing public school system. However, if I one day decide that I want my children to go back to traditional school or circumstances arise where I can no longer school them at home, I would like to feel confident that they will gain the education and knowledge they need in order to succeed. For that reason, I will side with the Democratic party's nominee, Barack Obama, on this particular issue.
Sources:
BarackObama.com
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/08/28/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_108.php
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-12-04-math-science-scores_N.htm?csp=34
Published by Y! Lyn - Community Advocate
Lyn Lomasi is the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Email her with community issues & ideas (contributor-lyn@yahoo-inc.com). Read her tips for success on the official Yahoo! Contributor Netwo... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentNice article, Momie - and from the comments, clearly a hot topic. I just have two comments: one - parents can make a huge difference, regardless of the system, method, school or teacher. Education doesn't stop at 3PM. If parents aren't helping (with homework, attitude, expectations, etc) then the best teachers won't be able to do much of anything. Two - we still have a lot more choices regarding educating our children then many people do. Everyone has access to schooling, for what that schooling is worth.
KUDOS to you for even caring enough to pay attention to what issues matter to you and researching which candidate fits what you want to happen. Too many people are just uselessly bickering over RIDICULOUS issues that are only fit for the cover of US weekly. Way to take personal responsiblity!!! 5 stars!
Don't be selfish and decide based on issues that really won't make a huge difference for you personally or the future of our nation. Check out this article on the self worshiping of Oprah and others that she endorses: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=256018
A self worshiping nation never prospers, and history shows it will lead to destruction.
I don't even have the energy right now to delve into the plethora of problems ingrained in the public school system - the sad fact of the matter is, without changing some very fundamental flaws with the system which the liberal educational culture is not willing to do, no President will really be able to make significant change to the education system. There are much weightier issues to consider when deciding a presidential nominee; issues that will be the foundation of all their policies and their worldview. Do they worship themselves, like Oprah and Obama, taking their lead from New Age philosopher Eckhart Toll and his book "A New Earth"? Or do they seek wisdom and guidance from the Creator of the universe? Do they respect ALL human life (including preborn), or just those whose lives are convenient for the rest of us to have around? These just scratch the surface of real issues we should consider. Don't be selfish and decide based on issues that really won't make a huge differ
NCLB was all intention, no substance and no backing, political or financial. The teachers are being held more accountable due to the changes implemented by the Bush administration. I know. I had to go through some of the hurdles. But John McCain backs charter schools but the DOE has reported that charter schools are not being held to higher standards of accountability like they were designed to do. The wealthy will always have their schools. Charter schools were supposed to offer a different avenue of public education, with greater accountability, and, depending on the charter, concentration on certain subjects. Like NCLB, it hasn't worked as well as they had hoped. Of course, prioritizing funds to American public schools instead of building a 1 billion dollar monument to diplomatic purgatory in Baghdad is far too much to ask from the Bush administration.
I agree with you. I think that Obama has a better plan for our schools. Certainly anything is better than it has been so far here in Hawaii.
I don't think we can blame everything on the teachers though. The kids have got to want to learn. The parents have got to stay behind the kids and be active in their learning. Parents can't just let kids go and do what they want and expect they will do their assignments and actually do well in school. There may be some bad teachers, but I have never met one myself. I didn't do well because I didn't have parental guidance in doing my assignments. If I did my math wrong no one knew it until I got to school and turned my work in. I excelled in science though with no help what so ever.
I think you are a great parent and teacher Momie. I wish luck to whatever candidate that will finally make it to the oval office... I hope they will do what they say they will, but I have serious doubts about it.
After Pearl Harbor and a rapid string of defeats, FDR used one of his fireside chats to explain the logistical difficulties of supporting a war effort spread out over 10's of thousands of miles in every distant corner of the ..........
world. He challenged every American to get a map, and 80% were listening, so they could follow what he was telling them. Within hours of the conclusion of his talk bookstores all across America had sold out of atlas's. Today, after five years of war, only one in seven high school graduates can find Iraq, Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia on a map. This is not because they wern't taught, it is because they don't care.
We will never fix what ails education in America by attacking methods. The core problem is attitude. We see constant attacks on the Obama's as "elitist". Both grew up in blue collar working class families and worked their way into top notch universities where they excelled. At the heart of the "elitist" tag is that they are educated. G. W. Bush attended Andover, an exclusive prep school and got into Yale, with a "C" average, as a "legacy", meaning he got in because his father went there. Yet GWB successfully sold himself as a "regul;ar" guy.
Americans do not like educated, smart people. Americans are suspicious of educated , smart people. In what school in America does the valedictorian receive more honor and prestige thatn the starting quaterback?
After Pearl Harbor and a rapid string of defeats, FDR used one of his fireside chats to explain the logistical difficulties of supporting a war effort spread out over 10's of thousands of miles in every distant corner of the
Very good points. Nice job looking at both sides.