tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post6555716477678752184..comments2023-09-29T01:48:26.874-07:00Comments on Scott in Tempe: A despicable John McCain add, and Obama's education policiestempe turleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906350838729139212noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post-28820838835780941262008-09-12T00:47:00.000-07:002008-09-12T00:47:00.000-07:00Helena, yes funding, but also standards that are c...Helena, yes funding, but also standards that are consistent across states...<BR/><BR/>Regarding research... I think it is important and should not be disregarded.<BR/><BR/>Granted good teachers and good schools at a local level should be given enough autonomy to do what works on the ground.<BR/><BR/>But having federal money and involvement collecting data, doing research and then getting knowledge out there so that teachers can be informed and be willing to try new approaches and adapt as things work. This is vitally important as well...<BR/><BR/>I'm really sensitive to this because the internet really opens this up. And, since we're homeschooling, we can look at math curriculums, for example, examine Singapore, or Saxton, or other curriculums and see what works for us.<BR/><BR/>In regards to early education... It doesn't necessarily take money, but a nurturing environment where small children are exposed to language and reading and engagement rather than thrust in front of a tv.<BR/><BR/>I don't know all of the details, but I think Obama's plan is to provide some of this for those families, especially the poor single mothers in the worst neighborhoods, with options so that kids get more of this, especially when it simply is not available in the home.<BR/><BR/>Again, David Brooks sites research that I have not studied, so I'm a little naive on this point.<BR/><BR/>But my primary point is that McCain is not even having the debate.<BR/><BR/>I want to see some good debate on these and other issues, but the Democratic party is the only one thinking through these issues right now in any deep way.tempe turleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00906350838729139212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post-70184670366099826752008-09-12T00:39:00.000-07:002008-09-12T00:39:00.000-07:001) The latest research is all fine and good but yo...1) The latest research is all fine and good but you can't and shouldn't implement it on a federal level. There are countless times that the newest phenomenom in education hits many a classroom, only to come and go. There really is no "best" way to teach, there are only the best teachers.<BR/><BR/>2 and 3 are all about funding. That's the only thing I think the federal govt. is good for when it comes to schools. How do you disperse this money?! That's what I want to hear from the candidates, nothing more.<BR/><BR/>I would argue that the gap on who completes high school and who doesn't has more to do with their family environment and the influence of their peers and less to do with their preschool years. I've taught both the very poor and the very rich, when they come from loving and caring families who want to support them they succeed. Some of the kids who struggle the most are the ones whose parents forked out the most money.Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17889554974006623288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post-27669642546049121122008-09-10T22:41:00.000-07:002008-09-10T22:41:00.000-07:00Helena, I disagree. Of course education happens o...Helena, I disagree. Of course education happens on a local level, but the federal government has an important role to play:<BR/><BR/>1) Take advantage of the latest educational research to influence general policy at a high level so that ideas can be readily shared across the country.<BR/><BR/>2) Provide funding to the states to enhance education and teachers salaries. You can't leave funding completely up to the states because some states simply are poorer than other states. Education needs to be broadly based and broadly funded.<BR/><BR/>3) In particular to this specific article, Obama places special attention to 0-5 education, providing opportunities through, again federally sponsored grants provided to states to implement pre-K education.<BR/><BR/>Again, point 3) comes directly from the latest research.<BR/><BR/>I really get tired when I hear the old Republican standby that these things need to be solved on a local level...<BR/><BR/>That's exactly why the poor neighbood educational systems are in a state of neglect while rich neighborhoods get all of the best resources and best teachers.<BR/><BR/>Ok, I'm done ranting...tempe turleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00906350838729139212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post-80494790578310669422008-09-10T21:23:00.000-07:002008-09-10T21:23:00.000-07:00I really don't think the President can do anything...I really don't think the President can do anything to fix education. It happens on a local level. No Child Left Behind is a good idea, but really only caused problems for already existing good teachers.Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17889554974006623288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5939543443166847471.post-68122475648155514132008-09-10T21:05:00.000-07:002008-09-10T21:05:00.000-07:00Thanks for posting this one Scott. I don't get to ...Thanks for posting this one Scott. I don't get to see these kinds of ads very often but I'm always blown away when we let politicians get away with this stuff. Until we start calling them out on this they will continue to treat us like we're stupid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com