I'm puzzled by the Republican fuss over President Obama's plans to speak to schoolchildren across the nation next Tuesday, September 8th, via C-SPAN and internet broadcast from the White House.
By all accounts, the President will emphasize the importance of education, and tell students to study hard, do their homework, and stay in school. Hardly radical ideas, although I do wonder if kids will pay any attention to a televised talking-head.
Besides, watching Obama's speech is discretionary. Reports one Missouri school district, "If it fits into their instructional schedule, they are welcome to watch the streaming video with their students, and if they have other things scheduled, they can decide not to view the speech."
OK, I grant you that it's weirdly controlling that the White House has penned supplemental materials to augment the President's speech to public school students... and I half-agree with the Missouri superintendent who groused:
"While I have the utmost respect for the office of the president, and for this president, this public relations tactic has gone too far. The distribution of teaching curricula from the White House to the classroom clearly usurps the authority of our local school boards and school administrators."
But really... is this such a big deal? Especially when far larger issues loom in recent education edicts by the Obama administration?
Obama Sending Mixed Signals on "No Child Left Behind"
For instance, liberals and conservatives alike are thoroughly confused by the mixed (misleading?) signals sent by the Obama administration over the controversial No Child Left Behind Act, which ties students scores on standardized tests to school rankings and eventually, to school funding.
On the campaign trail, candidate Obama orated repeatedly, "... don't tell us that the only way to teach a child is to spend too much of the year preparing him to fill in a few bubbles on a standardized test," and "Tests should not be designed as punishment for teachers and students... Tests should support learning, not just accounting."
Yet, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, an Obama basketball buddy from Chicago, recently announced the department's first big initiative: the "Race to the Top" initiative, which will award $4.3 billion in federal grants "to open the door to more charter schools and expand the use of student test scores for judging teachers," per the New York Times.
Huh? Isn't this the contradictory opposite of candidate Obama's promises? The Times continues, "The proposed rules make testing an even more powerful factor in schools by extending the use of scores to teacher evaluations."
Dumping on Solidly Democratic States to Score Political Points?
Wait, it gets even stranger: by law, three states (California, New York, Wisconsin), don't directly link teacher compensation to student test scores. Secretary Duncan expressly told those states to change their laws to suit Obama expectations, or lose out on "Race to the Top" grants. Period.
(Obama team political calculations must be that they can afford to dump on three solidly Democratic-blue states. In the process, perhaps score political points with independents in battleground states. You can safely bet Obama would never issue a similarly dire edict to, say, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, or Colorado, formerly red states that voted for Obama in 2008. )
For good measure, Secretary Arne Duncan even said some shockingly demeaning words about California teachers, as a whole.
And even stranger, Duncan has unambiguously thrown his support behind failed Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his cadre of religious right, pro-school voucher educational advisors.
The New York Times quoted Diane Aoki, a teacher from Hawaii, who summed up frustrations with Obama's new "Race to the Top" initiative:
"I am a public school teacher who vehemently wanted to vote for a president who would save us from 'No Child Left Behind.' But linking test scores to teacher evaluations, means the potential is there for the test frenzy to get worse than it is under 'No Child Left Behind.'"
So count me puzzled at Republicans getting riled up over the minor matter of President Obama talking for a few minutes to kids who probably won't be sitting still or listening.
That's small political potatoes compared to the putrid crop of bait-and-switch issues starting to take root in Obama's education agenda.
To bone-up, I suggest you read, or reread, my article, Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act
- Related Reading
- Obama Speaks Out on Education, No Child Left Behind (July 2007 speech)
- Obama's Education Plan to Reform Schools & Reward Teachers (Nov 2007 speech and detailed plan)
- Share Your Thoughts: Should "No Child Left Behind" Be Junked?
- Gov. Schwarzenegger Sets Trap for Obama’s “Race to the Top” Initiative
Comments
I’ve always been of the opinion that presidents — any and all of them — should leave education up to educators.
Robert
I agree, Robert. Seems like education should be sacred territory, hands-off to political point-making.
I also still can’t understand any Education Secretary making such callous, insulting remarks about the entirety of teachers or the educational system in a state, either. My daughter got an extraordinary public school education here in CA, and not in an “elite” high school. As a result, she won a hefty scholarship to attend a top U.S. university.
Wanna know why the White House is asking students to write letters about how to help the president?
It’s because we elected a know-nothing “community organizer” who is now so disorganized, that he’s begging OUR KIDS for advice!
Many parents and school board members are concerned about President Obama’s September 8th plan to usurp state superintendent’s responsibilities for developing curriculum and head straight to children in school with a message about working hard. “Innocuous”, you might say.
But the message comes with a lesson plan and activities for teachers. (As if teachers wouldn’t be able to create their own discussions.) And what’s in the lesson plan? Let’s look at the one for PreK-6 teachers. Teachers are to ask, “Why is it important that we listen to the President and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?” This might seem harmless. However, given the context of what parents mean when they tell their children to “listen to what I say,” the directive is disturbing.
The fact the President and Secretary of Education decided to take the message directly to schoolchildren is provocative. As one parent and school board member says, “…a President, any president, should not be usurping the role of the local and state school boards, or the state legislatures, or state departments of education, who are responsible for curriculum and state standards.” (Please see the letter below to principals from Secretary Duncan. I apologize for not adding a link, but the letter has been removed from the Internet.)
Here is another troubling issue, the behind doors development of common standards. The establishment of a national curriculum should be an open process. It might be a good idea, given the weak standards of many states. (Few, such as California, have rigorous standards.).
The lack of transparency bothers me a great deal, especially because of the President’s promise of open government. Why isn’t the press questioning an administration that claims full transparency? Why is education off limits? I have another question; how could something so very complicated as national standards be created at record speed?
Letter From Secretary Arne Duncan to School Principals
US Dept. of Education ^ | 8/26/09 | Sec. Arne Duncan
Posted on September 1, 2009 3:32:53 PM EDT by Unam Sanctam
Dear Principal:
In a recent interview with student reporter, Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 — the first day of school for many children across America — he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.
Since taking office, the President has repeatedly focused on education, even as the country faces two wars, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and major challenges on issues like energy and health care. The President believes that education is a critical part of building a new foundation for the American economy. Educated people are more active civically and better informed on issues affecting their lives, their families and their futures.
This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation’s school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov 12:00 noon eastern standard time.
In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 and for students in grades 7-12. These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education. Details of the video contest will be available on our website http://www.ed.gov in the coming weeks.
On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank our educators who do society’s most important work by preparing our children for work and for life. No other task is more critical to our economic future and our social progress. I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to continue improving the quality of public education we provide all of our children.
Sincerely,
Arne Duncan
Boogey boogey!
That’s what this is all about. Create a boogey man, and beat him. Really, that’s all the republicans can do right now. He’s going to pull the plug on Grandma! Stop him! He’s lying about raising taxes on Middle class, stop him! He wants to turn your kid into a Socialist, stop him! Obama never was going to do any of these things, but if Republicans can make you believe he was, and he doesn’t, they claim they stopped him when he was never going to do what they say he was going to.
If you think we live in a free market economy, pass me whatever you are smoking, I could take a break from reality….
Secondly, Bush is just as much a socialist-tinged central planner as Obama so don’t go acting like the republicans are for free markets and the democrats are the only socialists out there. We have had a free market economy in DECADES and we are continually on the decline. You want to learn a little something about education?
http://www.youtube.com/mikeshanklin
Watch me video titled Stupid In America…..you will see what socialism has already done to our country over the last 60 years in healthcare, education, heck, just about everything they get their hands on. Government can’t produce anything, it simply continues wasting money, and we pay for it….not to mention the fiat currency that has been printed since the failure of Brenton Woods in 1971….gee wiz, people are clueless if they think Obama is NOT a socialist….most of the republicans are statists as well….so don’t go acting like they care about liberty either. I feel like I am surrounded by complete morons all the time….republicans and democrats. Liberty is what we should be defending, not slavery.
Not here to make friends…
Having raised 4 daughters, and 2 stepchildren; and obviously having been “in” the public school system for all those years, I believe that ALL teachers should be paid by THEIR own personal ability.
Not by length of employment, nor regarding the test scores.
There are many that can pass those tests, yet left alone to care for themselves can only say “huh”?
(Yes there are many students like that too).
Mr. Obama… Please just “think”- About them all.
Teachers-
Personality. Everyone has one.
Remember that to earn respect you must show the kids HOW to first.
Respect is not a given.
It’s NOT all in the books or even in the tests. (Can you say “vocab” tests to your dyslexic, less fortunate children?
Kids-
Not all of your teachers will earn your respect.
Not all of your officials will either.
Just learn to think for yourselves.
You do not have to agree with anyone.
God has not put us here to make someone else happy. You have been put here to learn.
Best of luck to ALL.
****
Oh, before I forget…
In response to # 3… Just Sayin’ said:
Wanna know why the White House is asking students to write letters about how to help the president?
It’s because we elected a know-nothing “community organizer” who is now so disorganized, that he’s begging OUR KIDS for advice!
*********
Is THAT why Pres Bush the first was begging the kids to write to him?
Glad you have enlightened me.