President Obama's campaign promised major education reform as one of three major initiatives he would undertake if elected. Keeping his promise, his first
major education speech 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
Education reform also played a prominent part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's goals for the "Great Society" initiative of the 1960s. Assign students to create a
report of at least 150 words that includes comparisons of President Johnson's education priorities and President Obama's.
The report should cite at least three resources and address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can add or substitute others):
Why was education reform such a high priority for President Johnson?
What were some of the ideas he proposed for K-12 education and why?
How did these ideas differ from education practices of the past?
What do you like about President Johnson's reforms and why?
Which of these reforms failed to bring results based on today's evidence?
How do the priorities of President Obama compare/contrast with President Johnson?
Pathfinder
Click the 1960s icon > Education and Health
