Education Fifth on Obama's List

In a recent op-ed, New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof takes issue with indications that education is not the president-elect's top concern. Kristof writes, "He ranked it fifth among his priorities, and if it is being downplayed, that's a mistake."

Kristof, like ASCD and many in the education field, sees improving the U.S. school system as key to addressing the economy and other issues facing the country. In his November Is It Good for the Kids? column, ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter discusses the financial crisis and charges President-Elect Obama to "make our education system an exemplar for the world." Carter writes

If federal lawmakers can work together to bail out the nation's financial institutions, why can't they work together to ensure that our children acquire the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they need to succeed in the 21st century? Can we afford to let one student drop out of high school every 26 seconds, amounting to a yearly loss of more than $300 billion in lifetime earning potential? For the United States to maintain its status as an economic and political leader, we must commit to being a global education leader. We must develop our human capital with as much urgency as our financial capital.

What's your opinion? Taking into consideration other issues, such as the economy, environment, health care, and national security, where do you rank education as a priority for the incoming Obama administration?

Comments

[dynapavlicekippolito]

It would seem to me that education and making responsible choices in business go hand-in-hand. Is it that the money is in big business? Is it that we know education is important, but we can always get to it later?

[Iva]

I agree that education needs to be the number one priority of the president elect and the US government.Let's face it the human capital is what it takes to take care of the financial capital.If we have a good educational system then it will produce the type of graduates needed to grow our economy.

[Jennifer]

President Obama has much to address upon his inauguration. Of course, the economy must be the first item on his agenda. Then, dealing with the Iraq War, which is connected to the economy. I believe education should come third. I trust that President Obama has his priorities intact. If you look at who he will be following, he definitely couldn't do any worse.

[A teacher]

Just getting rid of all the "No CHild Left Behind" paper work would be a huge step forward

[kos]

I think that his first order of business should be to restructure and fund the No Child Left Behind Act. This act has failed in its attempt to close the achievement gap. I hope that we can find an alternative before NCLB further diverts funds from programs that are aimed at helping the very students that it intends to help.

[Mr. M.]

I agree with what Jennifer thinks. It would be silly to think that with all the crises in our country with the economy and national security,even as an educator I wouldn't expect him to put education first on his list. Additionally, if any of the potential candidates we saw "get it" with regards to the state of education in this country, it's Obama. Do you think McCain would have done anything other than throw more money at NCLB? Obama does need to, however, follow through with what he began saying with regards to education; higher standards expected of teachers, higher pay, and fixing NCLB. I, too, think his agenda is good, but time will tell.

[Mrs. C]

Even as a teacher, I do not think education should be Mr. Obama's first priority. As others have stated, the immediate crisis of the economy should be first priority. Of course, with several individuals and committees at his disposal, I am sure research has been and will be going on throughout the time the economy is being addressed.

Breaking down some of the big business mentality within the US would not only help the economy, it would also go a long way towards emphasizing the role of education. Kristof mentions the stagnation then decline of the educational system since the 70's. Would it be amiss to tie the sense of entitlement that is held by so many Americans and the boom of many large American corporations (like the automotive industry) along with the increasing demands of many unions to the decline in educational achievement? If a child struggles in school and knows that they can drop out and end their daily misery and in turn move on to a high paying, relatively stable, unskilled job like manufacturing, why would they stay in school?

Some of the other comments I have heard from him addressing the family are a good place to start in dealing with the education system. Support from home goes a long way in insuring a child gets a good education. If parents do not back or even worse openly disrespect the teacher, then it can be next to impossible to motivate a child to do what is needed.

[Jennifer]

I think we are naive if we believe that President Obama will use a checklist approach to dealing with the many crises this nation is facing. It is rather obvious that he must deal with the economy and the war and Iraq but that doesn't mean that our educational ailments sit on the backburner until these get "fixed". Education is probably listed as his 5th priority because the meeting with his education advisors is the fifth one scheduled after his inauguration.

[Mrs. H]

I agree. Education is important, however, there are many things that are more threatening to our economy right now. At least education made his top 5. I know those in the education system are directly affected by the negative affects from No Child Left Behind. Obama said in his campaign he would work toward fixing it and he needs time to settle into his new position and read up on all the issues education has right now. The economy may crash and burn if something is not done right now. At least we know we have wonderful teachers in the school systems fighting for the students and doing everything they can to keep them on track.

[Chrissy]

I believe that Obama has a lot of pressing issues to face when he comes into office. What I do believe is he wants to help and fix the state of our educational system because he believes that it is what will grow and change our country. I think he will deal with all issues WHILE dealing with the educational crisis in our country. I believe NCLB will be diminished and teachers can get back to teaching about what kids WANT to learn about instead of teaching to a test to try to keep their jobs. I have high hopes for this administration, but truly believe that with Obama having young children and an interest in the educational system, he will prevail and make it a top priority.

[Amanda]

There are many critical issues on Mr. Obama's plate right now. We can't expect him to drop everything and focus solely on education, even though that would be wonderful.
I agree with Mr. M's comment on Obama dealing with the family. Family is the most important aspect of learning. If children feel supported from their family as well as their teacher, then there will be increased motivation to succeed. Because Mr. Obama has young children he will certainly put their education, as well as the education for the nation, as a top priority. We have to believe in him and trust that he will help to change things like NCLB, and ensuring that teachers are highly qualified. Make note, that being in the classroom for many years doesn't always mean you're highly qualified, no matter how many of us may think that. We all know the teacher in the building that does less than his/her best and doesn't care. It's those type of people that Obama will be targeting in order to improve education. We need to be the driving force to make education better in the States. We need to stand up and tell Congress what is developmentally appropriate and relative to our students lives. This will give them valuable input on how they can help us to strengthen education.

[Erin]

I have the same way of thinking as Mrs. C. I highly doubt that there is a check list that Obama has where he will simply cross off what has been accomplished and move onto the next order of business. The economy is the first priority. Everything else- health care, education, etc. all fall under a better economy. Obama has children, he understands the importance of a better education system. I have faith that he will re-vamp NCLB and help our schools.

[Erin]

sorry, i mean i agree with Jennifer

[C Harvey]

The economy and education goes hand in hand. The United States must have a strong finical and educational system in order to stay competitive in this global economy. I believe the Obama team should revamp NCLB and find ways to improve school (ie buildings, teacher pay, and curriculum alignment).

[Erica]

As an educator, I would like to see education as a top priority for anyone, but in reality that may not be the case. I think it can all fall under a broad umbrella of the economy. If we improve the trends in education, wouldn't that improve the economy? Would having educated people in turn lead to better economic status?

[Don Duggan-Haas]

Is education too big to fail?

A strong argument can be made that it already has. Consider that roughly one in three kids don't graduate from high school in four years and even those that do don't seem to understand very much about the natural and social world.

Perhaps it is time to stop thinking about how to make schools better and time to start thinking about how to make something better than schools. The fundamental structure of schooling has no grounding in research on how people learn and largely seems to work in opposition to what that research says.

Maybe it's time to imagine and build a system centered on learning.

Education should be among Obama's top priorities, but, counter-intuitively, that doesn't mean supporting public schools should be a top priority.

[roger]

In all of the discussion about NCLB funding, it seems that special education funding is being ignored. I know more NCLB funding will be necessary as more schools make the needs improvement list, but a higher priority for me would be to see the federal government come through with the 40% funding that they promised over 30 years ago. The terribly underfunded mandate of special education is causing just as much financial stress as NCLB is, perhaps more.

[amorea trew]

I believe our rankings should be focused on securing our nation, the economy, health care, and education.

This blog is not political in the sense that we should voice our OPINIONS on our current administration. If you feel the need to blast this administration, you should start a new blog, or join one - there are many I am sure.

[Baker]

There needs to be a clarification here. Is Obama prioritizing? Or is he putting education on the back-burner, as Kristof suggests?

Of course he's going to prioritize, because he has to. We all do. I, as an educator, don't have a problem with him addressing more immmediately pressing needs if necessary.

The question is whether the dialogue and consequent action for education comes up (as Jennifer suggested) in his fifth meeting on the day of inaguration or if it gets pushed off to, say, the fifth month after inaguration.

We all need to make sure, regardless of issue position, that it stays as a priority and focus from day one.

[Deb]

As a special education teacher, I agree with Don as I too would like to see the government fully fund special education as they said they would. It would certainly help our district's budget as we are cutting teachers in our district again in 2 years since our levy failed again.

I would have liked to have seen education higher than 5 but I am glad it is on the list! Education of our youth will help us compete in the world at large.

[Courtney]

As important as I believe education is, I do not believe that it should be the first priority at this time. Working to fix our struggling economy should be at the top of the president's list. I agree with an earlier post that we should just be thankful that education is in Obama's top priorities.

[Robin]

I believe education should be a priority in any administration. There are so many countries so far ahead of us in education and the importance they place on it. NCLB is a good place to start, but I teach in a classroom where many of the children have never even seen a book before they entered school and have no idea how to spell their names. How can we stay globally competitive in the years to come when this countries future leaders are already behind the future leaders of other nations?

[Anne S. Brooklyn, New York]

While I don't believe education being 5th on his list of important issues to be dealt with upon his taking office, I am even more concerned with who is he considering for Secretary of Education. Joel Klein, Esq. is in talks with Obama regarding the position. Klein has done enough to destroy the NYC education system with his partner in destruction, Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Between the two of them, children in NYC have suffered for 7 years of high-stakes testing with the tests actually being watered down to glorify them with the numbers they supposedly had a hand in raising. Luckily, at my school we teach the Core Knowledge Sequence, which provides the students with that much more. Unfortunately, Klein could do nothing but destroy the rest of the country's educational systems. Obama's priorities might have some valid sequence, but the people with whom he chooses to associate and look to for guidance is extremely faulted. Good luck to us all.

[Kevin Freeman]

I believe that education should be near the top of President Elect Obama's list of priorities. The economy, national security (two wars), and then education. Education is critical for our country to once again take the lead in the global economy. It is important that public schools throughout the nation have the funding, personnel, and training necessary to prepare our students to compete in the new and emerging global economies.

[Debbie]

Educating children is economy development. If we are to invest in the future of our children then we need to be preparing them in the manner in which they are to work as adults. Continuing to educate children with chalk and blackboard is not the way in which they will work in the future.

Think about the way that we bring children into the world. Think about all the electronic gadgets given to children between the ages of 3 months to 3 years, all geared to spark imagination and make children more alert. Then we place them in a complacent classroom and ask them to use paper and pencil and pay attention.

If we are to compete globally we have to become smarter about how we educate today’s children. Today’s children are: multilingual; multi/cross-culturally competent; technologically fluent; academic lifelong learners; economically engaged; artistically expressive and a democratic citizen.

Yes, education needs to be near the top of the list.

[sheila moore]

A nation without vision shall perish. Education is a priority and should not be taken lightly. Right now, emphasis should be on strengthening the NCLB in terms of funding and allowing teachers and principals to ensure that students are receivng the maximum benefit of the classroom

[Irene]

I think basic needs of every citizen should come first: economy, healthcare and safety. Then education 4th. I work in the school syatem and can still recognize that there are ther priorities in today's trying times!

[Maggie]

Is anyone aware of the timeline involved with government educational reauthorization? NCLB originally took one year to pass through a Congress without opposition. Due to the war and the economy, a new reauthorization is not likely to pass until 2011 or beyond! There will need to be an extensive rewrite. Committees will need to be formed. A budget planned. Presently, the country is working under an extention of NCLB on a year-to-year basis. We are looking at budget decisions based on last year. Congress will not likely look at any revisions to the educational budget until the spring of 09 - if then. Things are not looking as hopeful as many Americans would like to believe. I'm afraid that NCLB is here to stay - at least for a few more years.

[David]

Education is the source for solutions to all problems -- REAL education, that is. If more people were TRULY educated on financial literacy, emotional intelligence, basic logic and sound reasoning, multiple thinking strategies, civic participation, delay of gratification... would we HAVE a neverending war in Iraq, financial meltdown, an out-of-control consumer economy, health care(-for-profit) crisis, abject poverty and hunger in a country of untold wealth and nearly unlimited food production capabilities? Do we REALLY want a MAJORITY of people who THINK before they make decisions, QUESTION the motives of political/civic leaders and corporate CEO's? Do we REALLY want a majority of people to realize they do NOT need another pair of $200 shoes and $90 perfume? Do we REALLY want people who consider CAUSES and long-term SOLUTIONS, who SAVE money, who think of others before their own immediate desires, who vote and participate in the civic lives of their schools and communities? If we really wanted these things, wouldn't over 150 years of mandatory education laws have produced them by now?

I've suggested to my elected federal officials they submit a bill that ties federal education budget to the federal military budget: ed. budget must match at no less than 20% of the military budget and then an equal increase for every percent increase of the military budget in perpetuity. Most people laugh at me when I suggest this. Education... a priority? Really? Come off it.

We should be ashamed.

[Linda Munk]

Without an intelligent, well educated population, none of the other issues will matter. It is chilling that Education is in 5th place on President-Elect Obama's list. Frankly, I am tired of my profession being used as a poltical football, and a trade out for special interests. If the education received by Obama's two young daughters is priorty one with the family, then he ought to put everyone eles's children in the same position.

[David C]

I too am tired of education being a political football. Education should not even BE on the President's list - AT ALL! Public education has only been hurt ever since Kennedy made it an issue in the national elections. EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE A NATIONAL ISSUE! It should be a local issue. It shouldn't even be considered part of the government. Educators, parents, and especially students would be far better off if the politicians would get OUT of our lives.

[Patrick Groff]

The best thing that Obama could do, to improve the amount of academic knowledge and skills of the nation's children, would be to shut down the federal department of education. The money saved by this act should be sent back to the people in the various states in the form of tax reductions. At present, the correlation between (a) the amount of money that each of the states spends on education, and (b) how much students learn, is very low. Hence, more money to the states from federal sources will remain a futile attempt to improve students' test scores.

Patrick Groff, Professor of Education Emeritus, San Diego State University.

[Nancy Anderson]

As an educator, I am confident that our President Elect Obama is a firm believer in education and is knowledgeable regarding the ramifications of NCLB. I am hopeful that the new education secretary will understand the importance of early childhood education and the corrlation to successful education. NCLB does not equal the playing field. We need to create a strong master teacher mentoring system to ensure that all children are receiving quality education...a test can not replace quality instructional strategies! Social Emotional Learning should recieve top priority considering disadvantages many students begin their educational journey with. Maslow needs must be fulfilled before students can achieve their potential in any aspect of life.

[Melissa]

While I am sure that there are other things president elect Obama feels may be more important, as a teacher and a mother, I feel that there is nothing more important than education. Education is the basic foundation of our society. Without knowledge, you can’t go very far in life. I am frightened by the fact that education is not closer to the top of the president elects list of priorities. I understand that there are many issues that need to be dealt with in today’s economy, however, I think that if we took a small piece of each large issue and worked on them together, then we could improve our nation’s top priorities without disregarding education and placing it so far down the list.