Business & Politics
2010 Likely to See Major Debate
On Education
Obama has the backing of businesses as he seeks to make big changes.
By Paul M. Krawzak, Contributing writer
Melissa S. Bristow, Managing Editor, the Kiplinger letters
January 3, 2009
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When it comes to education, Americans may disagree on most of the details, but they do agree on one point: Today’s system is in need of an overhaul. Despite huge hikes in federal, state and local spending on schools in recent decades, policymakers, education advocates and experts, parents, employers and educators concur: The nation’s children need better preparation for 21st century life and careers.
Whatever the system’s good points and whatever its faults, there is strong agreement on the need to revamp for a new decade and radically changing job markets. With unemployment at 10%, many jobs go unfilled because of a shortage of skilled workers. Higher education costs more than too many people can afford and keeps rising much faster than inflation. And too many youngsters are left behind by a system that can’t keep up with changing needs.
What and how to change, however, is the subject of much heated discussion. There’s broad agreement on the need for more accountability, but teachers’ unions will fight tooth and nail anything that makes it easier to fire teachers. Business groups, among others, favor letting other experienced professionals join the ranks of teachers without going through the traditional certification process. Others say no way.
Some advocates want a national curriculum or standards, either embraced voluntarily by the states or required by Uncle Sam, to enforce a consistent set of expectations. Opponents fear undercutting state standards and giving Washington too much sway.
The debate in Washington is sure to heat up this year, with a new push to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, a project of President George W. Bush and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Bashed from both the right and the left, NCLB wins plaudits for at least one accomplishment: It established the principle that schools, school officials and districts should be accountable for children’s progress.
Odds are NCLB will be reauthorized -- but with changes. Sanctions now imposed on school districts that don’t meet improvement goals will be eased. There’ll be more carrot and less stick. States will get more flexibility to measure progress over longer time periods rather than having to hit annual targets.
But there’s little chance of any sort of comprehensive reform package akin to a health care overhaul, for example. The obstacles are just too great. Meanwhile, Obama officials aren’t content to sit still. The White House is determined to actively push its agenda of increased accountability, innovation and choice, as well as boosting federal support for both schools and students.
There’s a plan to hike funds for community colleges, and, beginning next year, billions in competitive grant funds will start flowing to states that come up with plans for innovative, promising ways to raise teacher quality, turn around the worst schools, strengthen standards and assessments and make better use of education data. To be eligible for new federal grants, states are racing to make changes, removing barriers to charter schools and allowing the use of student test data in teacher evaluations. Wisconsin, for example, lifted its ban on use of the data last month.
Many businesses are joining in the effort, and they are, for the most part, enthusiastic about President Obama’s agenda. “This administration, a Democratic administration, which came to office with the strong support of teachers’ unions among others, is very much in sync with our agenda,” says Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We are supportive of what they are doing.”
The administration is teaming up with industry, universities and foundations to encourage more concentration in science and math. One example: Time Warner Cable aims to connect with more than a million students, bolstering existing after-school science, technology, engineering and math activities.
While U.S. schools could be a whole lot better -- and parents need to accept a lot more responsibility for how their children fare -- don’t forget that test scores aren’t the only measure of success and may not even be the ultimate or most important way of determining quality. Economic growth is also a way to measure how well prepared students are. On that score, the U.S. is doing well and will continue to do so long term, especially relative to other countries -- periodic downturns notwithstanding.
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Reader Comments (7)
Posted by: Norm at 01/04/2010 05:29:04 PM
We need to make a greater use of all kinds of talent in education that is not based on local politics or corporate influence. Unique skills and abilities should be identified and utilized without academic preconceptions, testing, state standards or micro-management. Teachers, including substitutes need to be recognized for the volume and breadth of their experience, background and analytical acumen without false accolades or degrading second-rate opportunities. Military service, understanding of the world and the ability to question must hold a prominent value of individual worthiness should not be subjurgated or diminished by the degrees, credentials or social influence and status of other educators. Each individual needs to be recognized and appreciated for their personal contributions from the past, present and future. Technology alone should not displace a poet, a scientist or a philosopher. The total person needs to be considered in every teaching opportunity. Trendy software or networking skills should never be a deciding factor of merit within a school of humanity or wisdom.
Posted by: Wayne H at 01/05/2010 10:29:18 AM
As long as the teacher's unions and associations control the educational system there will be no real change. State, Local and Federal governments have been throwing money and people at this problem for 50 years. The US and it children slip further and further behind many other countries in the world. Here in California schools receive more money per student than the majority of states, yet the overall performance of those student has slipped to 48 out of 50. Teachers and administrators need to be accountable for their performance like any other employee of any other company. Until we change the way we all look at the educational system nothing will change. A few basic steps would start the process; 1. Do anyway with tenure, no one should be immune from action if they do not perform to a specified standard. 2. Pay/Salaries should be based on merit and not time on job, this should be applied to all government employees. 3. Benefit package including health insurance, vacation and holidays, retirement should be in line with corporate standards, again apple this to all government employees including elected officials. 4. Limit languages supported in schools to english. 5. Eliminate any any course studies that don't promote employability and basic skills ( reading, writing, math, speech) There have been many studies at various Charter type schools around the country that prove these methods work, even in serious disadvantaged areas. They UNIONS and their politicization of the educational system in the US are at fault here.
Posted by: Serenia at 01/10/2010 09:14:20 PM
I was a full time Elementary Reading Specialist ( Title 1 ESEA Act ) for over 30 years. I have been substitute teaching for the past 4 years. I have worked with the poor and minority studnts half of my life. I trully believe our education sytem will never improve until the students in the the schools are accountable for their behavior. Many ,but not all , schools and principals do not assist the teachers as they should. If more non-educators saw how the students act and refuse to work, no matter how terriffic the teacher is they would FINALLY understand the American Education system. My school district has so many ways to try to get these students to work, They have reward cards, school reward card, stars etc. Of course their home environment has a tremendous effect on their behavior at school. I also want to respond to another comment below. One reason we have tenure is to keep our great teachers in the system. School districts budgets are falling everywhere due to our present economic system. They would start letting go of hundeds of fantastic teachers to save money. My best friend who had very high test scores for her class for 3 years was let go from a Charter School, no tenure there, and replaced with a teacher that cost $15, 000 less and had no teaching experience! . The outside world just doesn't understand all the goings -on in our present day education system. If you want to change the system, plan with EXPERIENCED teachers and Administrators I appreciate you reading this.
Posted by: hana bloom at 01/21/2010 05:26:54 PM
Public school teachers rank at the bottom of any academic measure - SAT scores, rigor of courses taken, quality of colleges attended. Talented students can't be teachers because they have concentrated in actual fields of study, rather than education courses. If you had an advanced physics course and Albert Einstein available to teach it, he would be ineligible to join the faculty of a public school. Schools of education of teachers' unions have put a stranglehold on public education. It's true that, at the other end of the spectrum from talented students, are grossly unruly ones where teachers can be little more than disciplinarians. But students who want to escape from those schools are held captive by the public school establishment's opposition to alternatives like charter schools, revealing that their primary interest is not the individual child's welfare. The abolition of tenure - which is granted with disgraceful ease - would hardly result in the forced removal of masses of "fantastic" teachers, as is alleged by Serenia. One would, in fact, be hard put to locate a horde of "fantastic" public school teachers, as they themselves demonstrate by their intense opposition to submitting themselves to any kind of test. Lots of fresh approaches are needed. We won't get any of them from the stodgy and stubborn teaching establishment.
Posted by: Dan at 01/21/2010 10:38:39 PM
I might not totally do away with tenure but I would definitely require more years in service to obtain it. One reason we are falling behind other countries is that their students go to school much longer than ours. The KIPP program has great results but requires more of parents, teachers, and students. I don't know if tenure protects great teachers. Yes you do have cases of bad principals, school boards, and parents getting rid of good teachers that dared to speak up against political correctness, bad policy, or unfair application of the rules. Yet why would you fire a teacher that inspires the students, gets good test scores, volunteers to do extras, manages their own discipline, and communicates well with parents? If that is the policy of that particular charter school they will not stay in business long. Like any business, hire and train good people, get rid of the bad ones, reward performance, support those doing a good job, and hire administrators with the testicular fortitude to occasionally make unpopular decisions that are in the best interest of all stakeholders in the school. Just some thoughts
Posted by: Sindee at 01/22/2010 07:10:20 AM
The entire educational establishment is at fault, education has been dumbed down, there's no real accountability, parents hand over their children and the system produces what it produces. Looking at the crooks-CEO's of failed corporations gives a clear picture of what our schools produce after 16-18 years of "education". And we wonder how comes the Indians, Chinese and others are taking away our jobs? We are a pathetic bunch of people who can't even educate our children properly with skills to face the challenges of this century but we must teach them other garbage like acceptance of social behaviors etc etc. I had to deprogram and reeducate my four children on a weekly basis from this educational system hence propelling them towards success in life. I went back to college thinking I needed to upgrade my education, it was a joke and a total waste of money and time. The rubbish that was taught/shoved down our throats was incredulous. In all 4 years I enjoyed and learned somethings new in math, accounting, economics courses even though those were tough for me. If America wants to emerge from this stagnant education system all of us will have to own up, rise up and work together to go back to the basics to gain competitiveness with India, China, Japan and others.
Posted by: subdoc at 01/27/2010 06:23:45 PM
The people who comment on tenure and teachers unions have no idea what the education requirements in this country are truly like. 1st. Most states require that teachers certify themselves by testing and passing at a minuim the PRAXIS I in a handful of other states PRAXIS II is required to teach a specific discpline and grade level. Most school systems in this country are so poorly run by the administrtive agencies in charge that it would make your head hurt!!!! You are the same people that when budgets are discussed at the local level rail against the system!! YOU ARE ALL FOOLS!!!!keep watching FOX and voting for republicans...we'll all be better in the long run....