Obama Proposes Education Overhaul

Although Spring Break has been so wonderful for us Temple students, here's a little something to get your minds back into the swing of school (don't all jump up at once!):

Reporter Richard A. Serrano from the LA Times wrote an article about President Obama giving the "No Child Left Behind Act" an extreme makeover. Obama conveyed his concern for our country’s standard of education in his weekly address. He said,"The nation that out-educates us today will out-compete us tomorrow." Obama claims that the US has "lost ground" over the past decade or so and that our high schools are no longer the top producers of college graduates among other top nations in the world. Obama's reforms will push the states to do more to make sure that high school students are prepared for college by 2020 and "stress academic achievements beyond what were called for under President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind program."

While many universities have increased standards every year for prospective students, what will this new plan do for students who are simply “average” academically? Will they get left behind in the midst the increasing competition of college admission and graduation? The Teachers Union is afraid of this factor exactly, and according to the article, is skeptical that Obama’s proposal may only reward the top 10 percent of schools nationwide. Also, many also fear that this plan is good in theory but will have a delayed start due to budget cuts and teacher layoffs that resulted from the recent recession.

I have high hopes for Obama’s education reform. What do you think?

To learn more about Obama’s education reform and to read the full LA Times article click here.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Michele Reilley.