Obama on Education

Obama Outlines Plan for Education Reform

I just finished reading President Obama’s plan for educational reform. Much of what he said has already been said and much of what he proposes may effect change. However; his comments, proposals and promises are as flawed as those of countless past educational reformers. Due to budget shortfalls almost 20,000 American teachers have been given pink slips this year. For the 2009-2010 school year our schools will be under funded, short of teachers and students will be taught in over crowded classrooms. Some districts will be forced to eliminate all athletic programs. I wonder if the $600 billion dollars spent on the war in Iraq could have been put to better use in the USA?

See: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

President Obama continued by praising Charter Schools, proposing merit pay and calling for the removal of bad teachers. These are hardly new ideas. Charter Schools are a real enigma. They are like semi-private schools in the public school system. Charter Schools allow for more freedom and innovation in the teaching and learning process. Charter Schools are a reaction to the rules, regulations and heavy handed interference of local, state and federal mandates. Why not allow all public schools the same level of freedom that Charter Schools enjoy?

Merit pay in the public school system is absurd. Arguments for merit pay are sometimes linked to the “corporate world”. Well, in the corporate world poor functioning or failing employees are terminated. We do not terminate failing students in our schools. When I taught, the students in my classes who failed failed for a variety of reasons: unruly behavior, poor attendance, bad attitude, failure to do homework and disinterested and uninvolved parents. These are all factors I had little or no control over. I was a classroom teacher, not a police officer, truant officer, or foster parent. Should teachers be labeled “bad” for this kind of student/parent behavior? Should this kind of student/parent behavior affect a teacher’s pay or cause termination?

Like so many other educational reformers President Obama placed far too little importance on the role of parents in their child’s lives. He has hinted at the role of parental responsibility in a child’s education; but not nearly as strong as the role demands. Parents must see schools as more than day care. Parents must see that their children, regardless of grade level, are prepared each day to do their best in school. Parents need to assure that their children are properly fed and clothed. Student’s time on the phone, the computer and TV must be controlled and monitored. Assigned homework must be completed at home

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Finally, President Obama wants bad teachers removed. Well, this may come as a surprise to Mr. Obama; but good teachers also want bad teachers removed. Individuals without the necessary personal and professional skills to teach put a strain on good teachers and have a negative influence on both staff and students. The solution or answer is simple - administrative involvement. In all schools there are procedures for administrative warnings, evaluations, interventions, corrective actions, and even termination of bad teachers. The problem in too many schools is the reluctance, inability, or refusal of administrators to follow these procedures.

Too often teacher unions or associations are blamed for protecting bad teachers. Nothing is further from the truth. All a union or association will do is see that proper procedures are followed. If administrators will leave the comfort of their offices and observe and evaluate poor performing teachers then a case can be made for removal.

Finally, the educational playing field must be leveled. It is absolutely unfair to speak of quality education for all students when the state of Vermont spends $15,000 per pupil and the state of Utah spends $5900. My own state of California ranks # 47 with a per pupil expenditure of $7500 per student. Maybe it is time for another Supreme Court challenge to educational disparity like the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit that struck down the concept of “separate but equal’. How does Vermont manage $15,000 per student?

Who Is A Role Model

One of the web definitions that can be found for Role Model states: “A person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate.” The last word in that definition, “emulate” means to “strive to equal or match, especially by imitating”. Based on an increasing number of athletes’ behavior it is about time the press and the news media stop referring to many professional athletes as role models. After years of denial, baseball player Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using steroids to increase his performance as a baseball player. This is not the kind of behavior that anyone would want their student/athlete to “equal or match …. by imitating.”

Over the years we have witnessed a parade of athletes acting badly. Without naming names, there is a pro football player doing time for sponsoring dog fights, some basket ball players can not keep their third leg in their pants, other football players have been suspended for drug use and one even shot himself in the leg at a night club. More recently over one hundred baseball players have tested positive for steroid use. Even our Olympic athletes have been caught using steroids and smoking pot. Yes, it can be argued that this embarrassing group is a small percentage of all professional athletes; but the number involved in bad behavior and their frequency of bad behavior is escalating.

It is time to put athletic ability in perspective. Participation in sports is a means to an end. That end could be personal, educational or financial. Participation in sports can lead to better health, scholarships for some and for the few, lucrative professional careers. The publicity that the arrogant, swaggering, foul-mouthed, self-centered highly paid professionals receive does not earn them the title of role model. No doubt there are professional athletes who are worthy and deserving of being called role models; but they are not in the lime light and not the focus of media attention. In fact, these good guys, these role models are usually not in the news at all.

Have you read anything good about: Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, Chicago Cubs reliever Kerry Wood, LPGA touring pro Mi Hyun Kim, Houston Texans running back Ahman Green and teammate Jason Simmons, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, Charles Barkley, Houston Rocket Dikembe Mutombo, New Orleans Saints teammates Drew Brees and Deuce McAllister, Seattle Seahawk Grant Wistrom, Tiger Woods, and three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley. To read about the heroic actions and good deeds of these true role models visit: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2950420&sportCat=ncf

The above individuals, by their community spirit, generosity, unselfish behavior, concern for others and good behavior could be called role models. It seems as though it is time for the press and media to pay more attention to professional sports’ real role models and devote less time to those who behave badly.

Thirty Days Ago ….

It has been about thirty days since I last wrote and so much has happened. George Dubyah and his sleazy sidekick, Little Dick are out and Barack Obama and Big Joe are most definitely in. It has been an incredibly educational and informative experience watching the Presidential appointments take place. I had no idea so many Washington players were so confused by the federal tax code. It really is true that two of life’s certainties are death and taxes.

Now we have the continuing saga of the Stimulus Package. Watching the behavior of the House and Senate Democrats and Republicans can be both amusing and confusing. Traditionally, the Democrats were the party of Main Street; but their concern over saving Big Banks and propping up Wall Street and ignoring the plight of the jobless and those facing foreclosure is astonishing. The Republicans, on the other hand, have always been more concerned about the economic health of their brothers in Big Business and Wall Street and less concerned about the difficulties of the middle class on Main street. However; it is the Republicans who seem more concerned about the middle class and are vehemently opposed to the Democratic appropriations (the pork) designed to ingratiate themselves with their special interest groups.

Presently various leadership roles are being filled and some of the choices are very puzzling. Timothy Geithner, the new Secretary of the Treasury, has made decisions both personal and professional that demand further scrutiny and questioning. Furthermore, it is probably a good thing that Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services considering his recent role as a lobbyist and special policy advisor for a health care focused Washington law firm.

While President Obama is setting up his new team one can only hope that he takes a very close look at the federal agencies that were set up protect and safeguard the public. FEMA, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, SEC and the FDA, to name a few, all have miserable track records and basically can not be counted on to serve and protect.

Closer to home we have the unbelievable, unnecessary, irresponsible and continuing budget stalemate in Sacramento, California. Hard working state employees are being furloughed two days a month without pay while the Sacramento dead beats continue to suck up their latte’s and play on their lap tops and bicker over the growing $42 billion dollar state deficit. In the words of Thomas Paine: “Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way!”

WE BEGIN THE YEAR 2009

Most of us are probably quite happy to see 2008 end; but remain apprehensive about how events will unfold in 2009. I continue to read statements from school administrators who enthusiastically proclaim that all high school seniors will not only graduate; but be academically ready for college. Unfortunately, this one tract fits all approach will fail. It may come as a big surprise to the “suits” in the administrative offices; but some students are not interested in college, will not be college bound and have other educational or career paths to follow. Are these students left behind or are they just taking a different path?

Thankfully the 2008 presidential campaign is over and the days of “Dubyah” are drawing to a close. Has there ever been a president who has done more damage to this country both at home and abroad than GWB? One can only hope that President elect Obama will have the cooperation of congress as he tries to put things right. I would hope that for both Democrats and Republicans the word bipartisan actually becomes a focus point and not just a media buzz word.

Of the four senate seats up for grabs it will be interesting to see if Al Franken wins in Minnesota, whether Caroline or Bill gets Hillary’s New York seat, whether the sleaze bag Governor of Illinois gets his way and who will take Joe Biden’s seat. I suggest watching Saturday Night Live which is not as entertaining as Anderson Cooper; but much more objective.

Baggage from the past that I would like to lose and possibly never hear about again, in no specific order: mid-east crisis, Hammas, The Bail Out Plan, Executive Compensation, bank foreclosures, the Oakland Raiders, the Surge, winning the Iraq war, anything about professional basketball, TV drug & medication commercials, mighty putty & Billy Mays, AIG, and San Francisco’s mighty mouth mayor, Gavin Newsom.

I hope this message finds anyone who is reading it happy, healthy and well. For a truly entertaining view of the events of 2008 visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiXy55OHyY

and let Uncle Jay set things straight.

A Modern Parable

This parable was sent to me by a close friend. I am sure that someone probably sent it to him via an e-mail. It is both relevant and timely enough to post here.



A Modern Parable

A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (Ford
Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River Both
teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance
before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to
investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team
made up of senior management was formed to investigate and
recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2
people rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a
second opinion.
They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the
boat, while not enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to
prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management
structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2
area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent
steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the
2 people rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was
called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings,
dinners and free pens for the rowers. There was discussion of
getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation
days for practices and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to
'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were
channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower, halted
development of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all
capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was
distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.

The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was
unable to even finish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid
off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold and
the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.

Sadly, the End.

Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last
thirty years moving its factories out of the US, claiming they
can't make money paying American wages.
TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen
plants inside the US. The last quarter's results:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in
losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting
bonuses... and now they want a bail out!

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY.

Buddy Can Ya Spare a Couple Billion?

Remember when Bush wanted to invade Iraq and Congress approved the invasion because Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction ? More recently Congress in another act of irresponsibility and gullibility approved "The Plan" giving former Wall Street Executive Paulson complete control over $750 billion dollars of bail out money. The Congressional procedure of "Ready - Fire - Aim" seems to always miss the mark. There were no WMD and the plan to spend billions to buy up toxic loans and allow the banks to once again offer credit did not happen.

The Bail Out Billions have kept the cesspool giant AIG afloat and will allow for continued upper level executive bonuses, rewards and compensation for jobs poorly done. Is this a form of merit Pay? U.S. banks who have been recipients of the billions have been allowed to do pretty much whatever they want with the money. It seems offering mortgages and freeing up credit are not on the short list; but using the billions to acquire banks is quite popular.

Now we have the auto industry. Unfortunately this is an industry run by CEO's who have seen the movie Wall Street far too many times. I imagine when Gordon Gekko announces "Greed is Good" these CEO's jump from their seats and high five each other. They are so out of touch, so arrogant and feel so entitled that they arrive in Washington, D.C. with hat in hand, not asking; but expecting billions of dollars in Bail Out funds having arrived in the luxurious comfort of their private corporate jets. If it costs $20k to fly their corporate asses from Detroit to D.C. one can only wonder how much has been spent on previous flights ... and to where?

The other day the Kelly Blue Book announced the top ten list of Green Cars for 2008 --- all ten were imports, not one U.S made car made the list. As I have written before ,in my opinion the U.S. auto industry has not had a creative ideal since the introduction of the Mustang in the mid 1960's. It would not surprise me to learn that there has been collusion between Big Oil and the Big Three of the auto industry.

The plan would be more palatable to many middle class Americans if there had been accountability built into the plan. Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and industries that receive Bail Out funds should immediately be taken over by an economic control board to see that the top incompetent executives are immediately fired and the funds are used wisely .... not squandered on private corporate jets, retreats, end of year bonuses,and obscene salaries.

Now that a barrel of oil has dropped $100 in the past month why hasn't the oil industry collapsed? Will they be next to ask for Bail Out Funds? Better yet, maybe the oil companies who have racked up obscene profits quarter after quarter should be the source of auto industry Bail Out funds. They can afford it !!

And the Beat Goes On ......

Well, the dust has settled and both the cheering and the crying have somewhat stopped ; but the economic debacle and the financial chicanery continue. Citi Bank has apparently realized that it may be better (for the bank?) to put a moratorium on foreclosures while other banks continue with foreclosures. The giant septic tank of an insurance company, AIG, continues to suck up billions of dollars of tax payer bailout money and complain that the terms are too stiff and the interest rate is too excessive. As Bruce Willis said in the movie Die Hard .. "Welcome to the party, Pal !!" I am sure at AIG's next executive gathering at some exclusive resort there will be much complaining over the absence of top shelf liquor and the loss of Cuban cigars.

While billions of dollars are being doled out to the corporate needy the line of greedy open hands continues to grow. Now we have the U.S. auto makers, who haven't made a sound decision since the introduction of the Mustang in the early 60's, crying that their sky is falling. We have the daily batch of economic experts telling us that the auto industry must be saved as it is now described as a matter of national security. When will saving or just helping middle class homeowners become a matter of national security?

On the political front the intelligentsia of the news media are totally preoccupied with the really pressing questions of the day: where the Obama children will attend school?, where is Sarah Palin's $150,000 RNC purchased wardrobe?, and will the Obama's socialize more than the Bush's. Missing from this media saturation coverage is any report on the whereabouts or doings of the Maverick. It is like John McCain has disappeared. However; it appears that his aides and staffers have been quite busy. They are in what appears to be a junior high school drama event to soil the reputation and future political career of their choice for VP --- Sarah Palin, the next Senator from Alaska?

As San Francisco's greasy haired, big mouth mayor ("Like it or not folks") inadvertently did his part to pass Prop 8 , the McCain people did their part to defeat the Maverick --- they put forth the Queen of Alaska and her first Dude of a husband for the American public to consider. Rally after rally we were treated to the on stage site of the Maverick, his Stepford Wife, the Alaska Queen and her First Dude and to round out the court there was the smiling face of the court jester -- Sen. Joe Lieberman. Poor Joe ... where ya gonna run to now? You are not a Democrat, and you may be a Republican; but right now you are a dependent independent.

Maybe the national bird should have been a turkey.