The first phrase in each paragraph is the stated Obama-Biden goal:
Reform No Child Left Behind: you used the wrong word; surely you meant “get rid of” and not reform; not a good start
Support High-Quality Schools and Close Low-Performing Charter Schools: what will your measure be for assessing low performance? I hope it is not test scores
Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: why? Is our current economic situation due to too few people knowing algebra and physics?
Address the Dropout Crisis: by making school interesting and relevant for job skills? Nah, not what you suggest at all.
Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: why? Because what goes on in school is useless? Why not try making it less useless?
Support College Outreach Programs: more people going to college is really not the problem for anyone except college administrators; why is this your issue?
Support College Credit Initiatives: more effort on getting people into college; was your college experience so magical?
Support English Language Learners: teaching English is a good idea; too bad schools don’t do this too well; what are your ideas on improving the situation?
Recruit Teachers: as the economic situation deteriorates there will be plenty of people wanting to be teachers; next?
Prepare Teachers: look, the problem isn’t teachers; it is the nonsense that teachers must teach and the obsession with testing that nonsense
Retain Teachers: make teaching a better experience; that might help
Reward Teachers: not for raising test scores I hope
It would be nice, if those who are in charge of our education policy understood that the issue is not test scores, teacher salaries, or getting into college. High school is an awful and useless experience. Has anyone in your education department noticed that? Stop teaching the 1892 curriculum. No adult knows most of what is taught in high school. Teach stuff that actually matters and see what happens.
Wired News surveys eight of the best online education resources for students, parents and teachers.
"We will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age."
President Obama, I have bad news for you. You will not be able to do that. Here is who will stop you:
1. The testing industry does not want change.
2. The teacher's unions do not want change.
3. The textbook publishers do not want change.
4. University professors do not want change.
What they all want, and they are very powerful, is continue to make money and have lives unencumbered by notions that we are teaching the wrong stuff in the wrong way. It is only the students who want and need change. They need meaningful, enjoyable, experiences that prepare them for employment. The school system has never been about employment. They will not get the change they need because those in charge of the system would have to give up on what they now do and do something completely different. Really- how often does that happen?
1. The testing industry does not want change.
2. The teacher's unions do not want change.
3. The textbook publishers do not want change.
4. University professors do not want change.
What they all want, and they are very powerful, is continue to make money and have lives unencumbered by notions that we are teaching the wrong stuff in the wrong way. It is only the students who want and need change. They need meaningful, enjoyable, experiences that prepare them for employment. The school system has never been about employment. They will not get the change they need because those in charge of the system would have to give up on what they now do and do something completely different. Really- how often does that happen?
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