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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 OPINION 
2

Obama Has Right Idea on Education

Breaks with party orthodoxy

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(Newser) – David Brooks crosses ideological lines to give President Obama a big shout-out on his education strategy today in the New York Times. "He has broken with liberal orthodoxy on school reform more than any other policy," Brooks raves. "He's naturally inclined to be data driven. There's reason to think that this week's impressive speech will be followed by real and potentially historic action."

The president wants more innovative charter schools, and use of testing data to reward excellent teachers. “Obama’s goal is to make sure results have consequences,” Brooks writes. His approach “would make it more likely that young Americans grow up in relationships with teaching adults.”

President Barack Obama high fives a young boy as he greets military personnel and their families before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009.
President Barack Obama high fives a young boy as he greets military personnel and their families before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Barack Obama talks with a young supporter at a rally in the Crown Center Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.
Barack Obama talks with a young supporter at a rally in the Crown Center Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Barack oObama with his mther Ann Dunham.
Barack oObama with his mther Ann Dunham.   (AP Photo/Obama Presidential Campaign)
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It's the perfect preparation
for reforming American education because it underlines the two traits necessary for academic success: relationships and rigor. - David Brooks on Obama's mother waking him at 4:30am to study together

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2 comments
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Nwambe
Mar 13, 09 10:33 AM CDT
How do you determine excellence? By test scores? Because if that's the case, what's to stop teachers from teaching to the test? And if not by test scores, what mechanisms are in place to prevent grade inflation? Merit-based teaching is certainly the right idea, but if you don't include commensurate training for teachers, new and established, then will it really help anyone, teachers or kids? Reply
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Derni
Mar 13, 09 12:31 PM CDT
If we continue to measure excellence and success by test scores nothiung will change. Teachers will continue to "teach to the test" and education will be as boring as it ever was. Why do we have a high dropout rate? School is boring and doesn't capture the attention of a population that is brought up on technology. Read the Global Achievement Gap by Wagner-I iash my kids had the opportunity to attend a charter like those described in this book. I waih I had the opportunity to teach in a school as described in this book. If schools were more like the charter schools in this book and on his website -I hope his theory and ideas catch on. On hope we can deal with teachers unions too-they ithye chain that forces districts to hold onto below avergae staff needs to go away-districts need to expect more from certain staff and if they don't get it -replace them.Unions make thatquite difficult. If someone offers me a job running a new charter school like the ones mentioned in Wagner's book I'll come out of retirement-teachers and staff excited about education-WOW! Reply
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