President Obama and the Public School System
Ideas for New and Experienced Teachers to Improve America's Schools
Mar 24, 2009
On March 10, 2009, President Obama gave a speech about the education system in America. He admits that the education system needs improving and wants to focus on several areas that directly impact teachers. Those who are new to teaching and those who are new to teaching a particular grade have many issues to work through and many things to learn. These ideas expressed by the president are now among those issues that must be worked through and learned.
Rewarding "Excellent" Teachers and Getting Rid of "Bad" Teachers
One idea President Obama mentioned was "rewarding excellence in teaching with extra pay” There are few if any teachers who would say they would not like extra pay, but what kind of pay is this? This is what is termed "merit pay" where teachers are judged based on student achievement. The basic concept is that the better the students in a class do, the better the teacher is, therefore give that teacher a bonus.
In addition, President Obama wants school districts to "move bad teachers out of the classroom.” Any parent or student who has had a bad teacher would whole-heartedly agree with this, and indeed many school districts find it difficult to let bad teachers go.
Raising Expectations for Students
President Obama also calls for schools to "stop low-balling expectations for our kids." Schools across the nation have set their own standards based on No Child Left Behind, and many of these schools have set lower standards for students. President Obama is asking for those schools with lower standards to step up and ask their students to do better.
President Obama Calling for New Teachers
President Obama is also "calling on a new generation of Americans to step forward and serve our country in our classrooms." He wants new teachers to be mentored by experienced ones, and for more time to be incorporated into the school year, whether to the school day or the overall school year through the summer. Read more about becoming a teacher and the importance of teacher mentors.
In addition to these ideas, President Obama wants to put renewed focus on early childhood education and make it possible for every student to go to college. What do these ideas mean for new teachers? It means higher accountability for student test scores, possibly more teacher mentors, and maybe a bonus if you have a high scoring class, but little else. In the meantime, teachers, both new and experienced, need to continue to focus on the one thing that matters most: the students.
Read more information on the problem with the public school system, and what changes need to be made.
Learn more about the President's effect on the Public School System.
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