In his first major education speech as president, Barack Obama unveiled a potentially controversial plan that includes merit-based teacher pay, a longer school
year, tracking of individual students' progress and removal of restrictions on charter schools.
"Despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we
have let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short and other nations outpace us," he said. "The relative decline of American education is
untenable for our economy, unsustainable for our democracy and unacceptable for our children. We cannot afford to let it continue. What is at stake is nothing
less than the American dream."
Learning Activity
Assign students to complete a report of at least 150 words that cites at least three resources (or choose a PowerPoint report of at least three minutes and seven
slides). The report or presentation should address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can add or substitute others):
What are the basic principles of the Obama education reform policy?
How are these priorities different than those of the Bush Administration?
Which of the Obama policies do you most support and why?
Which of the Bush policies do you consider were effective or ineffective and why?
What other policies would you propose to the President and why?
Pathfinder
Click the Topics Search tab > type "Obama and education reform" > click Obama, Barack (person) AND Education policy > View Documents.
