Obama's education rollout

Buddy, Houston — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:55:25 GMT

Obama's education rollout

Disgusted with Obama, Missouri — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:02:40 GMT

Big...new...lofty...idea, Obama on education. No one every thought of that. So impressive. Hillary had the education ideas way way back when you were a little guy in that Muslim school.

You are just so impressive, Professor Holier than thou.

Obama's education rollout

Bee — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:03:03 GMT

This is what I called leadership. Obama seems to be the only candidate that gets it. Education is the bead rock of every nation.

If you are still undecided you had better jump in before the train lives you behind.

Obama all the way; his ad was even impeccable.

Check it out.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/chancesad

Obama's education rollout

Bee — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:10:45 GMT

We all know Clinton will mirror Obama's policy once it has been tested in the polls. Real leadership required boldness and principle.

Since Hillary won the endorsement of Teachers' union I have not seen her roll out any education plan. She is waiting for Obama to submit his plan and then plagiarize it by changing one or two languages.

How can she pass the honesty and leadership test when all she does was to wait for public opinion polls?

Obama's education rollout

Nashville_fan — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:12:49 GMT

There are too many "local yocals" around for me to endorse the local approach. We need to find a happy medium. I think Obama's plan sounds promising.

Obama's education rollout

modernwoman, Anytown,USA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:16:55 GMT

The more specific information I hear from Senator Obama, the more I like what he has to say!!

Pssssst - I've got a secret to tell you......Obama '08

Obama's education rollout

MRT MS — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:19:33 GMT

A liberal throwing more money down the crap hole we call public education.

Obama's education rollout

Jimmy Chicago IL. — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:24:38 GMT

Obama's education rollout

Class Warrior, D.C — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:31:32 GMT

you go! No more philosophers, the literate, or thinkers. Engineers! Computer Geeks! Yeah!!
Just because our country was founded by philosophers and thinkers who framed a very interesting constitution (one of those old fashioned things like the Geneva Conventions), let's have more computer freaks and engineers!

Obama's education rollout

Lisa, Fort Worth TX — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:33:33 GMT

I prefer to take my chances, spending the $ on education, rather than the deadend "craphole" of Iraq.
How much of an investment return will we see in Iraq?

Obama's education rollout

pat huntington ny — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:34:29 GMT

Obama's education rollout

mark bradley elgin il — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:40:47 GMT

you people are so dumb obama the one way ticket to a nothing show. china and engineers he forgot to tell you what type of engineers 18 million for education and cut taxs for retired people my ass. vote McCain people wake up.

Obama's education rollout

kmnecole, st louis, mo — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:44:03 GMT

Are you serious? I don't care how much you dislike the candidate- it seems utterly ridiculous to sit here and say funding the education system is a bad idea - Helping our children be competetive with the rest of the world in math and science is a bad idea - Encouraging teachers to go above and beyond - and rewarding those that do is a bad idea- Asking parents to take an active role in the education of their children is a bad idea

I mean- come on- disliking the guy is one thing- but if you're going to attack his preposed policies- at least let it make sense. No matter how you slice it, better education of our children makes for a better America- today and tomorrow.

Obama's education rollout

Dillon, MN — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:44:49 GMT

Disgusted with Obama, Missouri... I just wanted to say that you're a hater. You sound jealous or something. Just thought I'd let you know. Oh and that little "Muslim School" crack that you and so many people on these blogs make and spelling his name Osama sounds stupid and it let's smart people know what you're really about.

Obama's education rollout

Ron, TX — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:47:15 GMT

Another great -policy outline- by Obama. Nevertheless, tomorrow, expect Clinton supporters to repeat the same tired line that "all Obama does is attack and never talks about his OWN ideas! I don't know what he wants to DO!"

Obama's education rollout

Sairen; Lawrence, KS — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:48:59 GMT

Promoting math and science education is critical in our age. Yes, a liberal arts education has a place in creating good citizens, but the Founding Fathers lived in an era when those receiving such an education were often able to live as an idle class. Today's wealthy are people of business and trade - professions that require extensive math and science. Only with sufficient education in those subjects can a person join a social class with sufficient leisure to study philosophy and the arts.

Obama's education rollout

jerry/corpus christi texas — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:55:51 GMT

I am still waiting for what Senator Clinton is going to say about education....

And what side of the fence she will be on......

And how many days she will hold that position......

And how many positions she can have.......

And the question form the "plant" at the next debate..

Obama's education rollout

Dot, Illinois — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:57:07 GMT

No matter how you slice it, better education of our children makes for a better America- today and tomorrow.
kmnecole, st louis, mo
----------------------------------------------
Absolutely. Education should be a top priority for the next administration. Some of our school systems are in dire need of help; not sure if the states can solve the problems without some additional Federal help.

Obama's education rollout

yeahwhatever — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:57:30 GMT

You know, being from an affluent neighborhood that's 98% Republican, I think my neighbors would thumbs-down this whole education thingy. They’d much rather use their giant tax cuts to give cash to their Corvette-driving kids to spend on blow. They also get their dain-bramaged kids to stomp my Vote Democrat sign to a pulp in my front yard every election. But I keep putting them up…

Obama's education rollout

SayItAin'tSo, Chicago, IL — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:57:38 GMT

I have been a huge supporter of Obama since he was a senator in Illinois and have seen him as a voice of reason and change that this country is in desperate need for. He actually has started to get me to believe change can happen here...

That said, this plan crushes everything I thought I was believing in. How can you say you support education and understand the U.S. is falling behind in math and science and then delay funding to NASA's Constellation Program, which, at a fraction of NASA's 0.6% of the federal budget, is one of the country's biggest assests for inspiring kids to pursue math and science and regain America's position as a world leader in technology and human achievement? PLEASE Barack, find the money elsewhere!

Obama's education rollout

Bob, Atlanta GA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:58:44 GMT

This has been going on for years. The more money the government throws at education the worse it gets. When will they ever learn? The best thing that could happen is to abolish the Dept of Ed and for the Feds to butt out.
Buddy, Houston (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:55 AM)

*****************************************************
The person on top has never been in a classroom to "teach". I am a teacher, WE NEED MONEY! To fund our schools, buy supplies, buy technology, and keep the good teachers in the classroom so we can get rid of the not so good ones. Unless you teach, or you have spent several hours helping in a classroom, don’t you dare tell me that “Money” won’t solve anything. Obama is the only candidate who seems to understand the educational crisis that this country is in. I think you need to read a little about what you are talking about before you sound off. There will be a quiz later so make sure you study.

Obama's education rollout

Annie, Erie, PA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:59:53 GMT

I find it so funny that the American people will continually hurt themselves by criticizing public policy plans that are designed to benefit them, while passively allowing programs that only benefit the unimaginably rich. Do we some how think our high credit card bills are lifting us into that catagory of wealth?

Day cares are very expensive and often poorly staffed. Many families require full-time day care from 6 weeks old to 12 years for their children. I don't understand what we lose by offering more support to those children to improve the quality of program they are receiving during those years.

Uneducated children turn into uneducated adults.

Obama's education rollout

John B, Des Moines, IA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:00:14 GMT

Why is it that "throwing money" at anything except war is a bad idea? Wake up, people. Conservatives are trying to destroy the public education system that did more than anything else to make us the envy of the world.

Obama's education rollout

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:01:47 GMT

Sairen:

I didn't study math or science. I became a lawyer, a profession that does not require extensive math or science but that does, in fact, have quite a few wealthy people laying claim to it.

Math and science are great, but they are not the only path to success.

Obama's education rollout

Mark Y. Word — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:03:32 GMT

##### News Alert #### There will be some dirt, comming out about Obama shortly. Please stay tuned. We now return you to your boring blog.

Obama's education rollout

Simon, Iowa — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:06:22 GMT

This is what I called leadership. Obama seems to be the only candidate that gets it. Education is the bead rock of every nation.

If you are still undecided you had better jump in before the train lives you behind.

Bee (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:03 PM)

Bee,

I thought Obama preaching to be a uniter, how come he become a divider by letting the train leave?

Got caught in your world of hatred which Obama created in your mind and heart?:-)

Obama's education rollout

Paul Ranson, Alliston, Ontario, Canada — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:06:34 GMT

I'm waiting for one of the candidates to come up with the absolute necessity that the U.S. stops trying to be the world's cops. Some of the things that are pressed upon other countries by global authorities are great. The only problem arises, when the U.S. decides that IT is THE global authority. I am an American, because I live in North America, but I also live in the country called Canada. My mother was born in Boston, and I trace my lineage there to John Adams. One of my sister's daughters is married into the Custer family in Michigan. (Yes, that Custer family) These little items make me "feel" like an American (from the U.S.) and, with my daughter and grand-daughters living in Atlanta.....! But, please....do some introspection. Get involved in upgrading your own country, before ALL the infrastructure collapses.

Obama's education rollout

Disgusted with OBAMA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:09:26 GMT

To Dillom in MN
Learn to read or get glasses. I did not spell Obama's name as you did...Osama. Re-read...I spelled it Obama.
I will never vote for a pious fraud like Barack...oops did I give his first name some Muslim spelling as you suggested.
You think I think Obama is inexperienced...just wait to see what the Republicans do to him.
I'm a realist. I want a Democratic president...OBAMA can not win in '08 no matter how lofty speeches get.

Obama's education rollout

Thomas, Fremont, CA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:10:49 GMT

Only problem with plans like this is 90% of it will never see the light of day. This is what candidates do they unveil massive complicated plans so they have something to talk about on the campaign trail even though none of it is ever going to happen.

Obama's education rollout

James, Toledo, Ohio — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:11:26 GMT

Oh, wow, this sounds great! Cut money to programs which create tech sector jobs so that we can push more childeren to prepare themselves for such jobs. That job market sureley isn't overcrowded enough yet! With enough excess workers maybe those poor under-represented coorporations won't be forced to actually pay people to work for them anymore.

BTW what is this surplus public land he intends to sell? Are we talking national forrests? Public Parks? Let's sell those to the developers, we have too many trees in this world! And who needs a park? It's better for kids to sit on a couch playing video games and getting fat. Otherwise they might fall off of a swing or be abducted or something.

Obama's education rollout

Steven Rice, Oakland, CA — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:13:43 GMT

Any presidential candidate who realizes that this country is way behind when it comes to edcating our kids in the math & sciences is as good as gold to be our next president. And I think Obama has it right when he says China and India are producing more engineers. There was a time when those engineers used to come to US just because job opportunities were not available in those countres. But with open trade and companies setting up shops in those countries the brightest don't have to leave home looking for a job. They are boosting the infrastructure and technology in their own countries. America is at a loss because we are producing kids who are just good enough to work in McDonalds. Most high schools here have no clue on the type and level of education a high school kid in China or India is getting nowadays. Clinton has the endorsement of the teacher's union. But that endorsement will work against the benefit of this country since she will be more interested in caving in to keeping the teachers happy and not enact any changes. Obama on the other hand understands what is lacking in our education system and is bound to make changes to the system for the long term advantage of our workforce in this country.

Obama's education rollout

Urich — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:15:20 GMT

Another great idea from Obama. Way to to go Obama!! Bwt, HRC is busy creating copies of the policy, tweaking it so that she can own it - send it to MSM and call it her own! But people are not stupid, they see right through this - come Jan 3rd we shall show the world what it means to be Fired Up and read to Obama!!

Obama's education rollout

Don Jock Hilton N.Y. — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:16:48 GMT

Most women get their way no matter how you spell it So vote for Clinton and you get two for the price of one

ost women get their way no matter how you spell it.

Obama's education rollout

Responser — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:33:37 GMT

To: "Disgusted with Obama, Missouri" Perhaps if you had the early childhood education Obama is proposing you would understand the detrimental effects that hate filled bigotry brings, before you exemplify its manifestations so clumsily with your first grade writing skills.

Obama's education rollout

CitizenJ — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:34:59 GMT

Obama is right! There, I said it...but I know that Hillary agrees on the education thing because its a hallmark of the Democratic Party. The republicans can't grasp the problem of oursourcing our education to China because they're happy with it. How sad...

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:34 PM)

You have gained the respect of an Obama supporter (whatever that is worth to you). It is rare on this board to find a person who is willing to say another candidate is right.

It's a good feeling to realize that we are all on the same team. It is an equally worse feeling to realize that the majority of Americans don't get it.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Obama's education rollout

Bee — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:36:39 GMT

thought Obama preaching to be a uniter, how come he become a divider by letting the train leave?

Got caught in your world of hatred which Obama created in your mind and heart?:-)

Simon

-------------------------------------------------
It seems your candidate doesn't have anything to offer. You are still welcome if you want to join the train of hopefulness.

Hillary Clinton divisiveness cannot be tolerated. We are not willing to turn up the heat on our independent and Republican friends. Non-George Bush Republicans are decent people but cannot just stand Hillary but can tolerate Obama

Obama all the way

Obama's education rollout

Lawrence N, Owings Mills, Maryland — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:57:25 GMT

Guys!! wakeup and smell the coffee. Education is the key of life. It's crucial our kids understand the roots of math and sciences through pre-school Obama proposed.This nation future wholly depend on our kids education success.I just madeup my mind to go with Obama,we need a new direction not Bush and Clinton dynasty.Guys!! this guy Obama is different and more especially new fresh young mind of 21st century just like Bill Clinton era of the 90s'.We need someone with better accurate judgement and leadership quality which Obama bring on the table unlike Sen. Clinton who voted for war in Iraq including the current bill that permitts air strike in Iran, it's lunatic,irrational judgement and easily deceived by this Bush administration. Get your fact straight, Obama is the one.

Obama's education rollout

Jerry Fine, New York, New York — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:59:20 GMT

Is it true about the Obama scandal ?

Obama's education rollout

SB — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:10:31 GMT

Dear Offensive Person From Missouri:

If Hillary has the lock on the education plan, please tell me why Arkansas ranked 49th in education during her entire tenure as First Lady there?

Sometimes it is important that you speak only when you have something valuable to add to the conversation.

Obama's education rollout

Class Warrior, D.C. — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:16:01 GMT

The rich want to destroy public education and access to college, so they can keep a stupid, gullible nation of sheep on its collective knees. Hence all the years of Republican downsizing of education and bogus "No One But A Rich Chld Goes Forward" bills. You don't like public education, want only private schools? Bush was born with a silver spoon up his ass, went to best private schools, drank his way through college on a "Gentleman's C"---and can't speak the English language. A soft, coddled, stupid product of private education running the country into the ground. You want lots of engineers and IT types, who spend their spare time on X-boxes and wouldn't know a good government from a bad one if they saw it on YouTube? A populace with a balanced education will be the kind of intelligent electorate the guys who back Bush, don't want you to think Global Warming, evolution or Copernicus are good science, that Jesus solves everything, and your 30% tax bracket to Warren Buffet's 15% is just. THEY WANT YOU TO BE UNEDUCATED SHEEP!!! Don't let ANYBODY do that to this country! A fair balance between real science (not "creation science") and real, critical thinking---civics and English and literature and philosophy and ethics are just the thing the Super-rich DON'T want America to return to. Ignorant sheep who first need to get their legs blown off in Iraq for Halliburton's profits in order to even hope to afford college is JUST what the rich guys who realy run things want. And none of them---Allah(or whatever god-de-jour the theocracy favors at the moment) forbid!---were products of tthe "craphole of public education". you can bet your Enron pension on that!

Obama's education rollout

Class Warrior, D.C. — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:16:01 GMT

Obama's education rollout

vanreuter, NY NY — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:28:34 GMT

"Edwards might now be forced into a, "two-front war", which he has so far avoided, but if he decides, as some have written, that Edwards tactics have benefited Obama more than himself, he may have to reconsider his battle plan."
vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:36 AM)

Edwards Campaign’s Response to Obama Education Plan
From Chris Kofinis, communications director for the Edwards campaign:

“In the days before Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the existence of actual facts. In his rush to criticize others, Senator Obama left out the inconvenient fact that he supported No Child Left Behind as an Illinois state senator before he opposed it as a presidential candidate. It’s not ‘a new kind of politics’ to try to have it both ways. When John Edwards is president, he will make sure that every school in America has the resources it needs to give its students a world-class education.”

http://thepage.time.com/edwards-campaign-response-to-obama-education-plan/

I think we are seeing the the first salvo of Edwards two-front war...

Van
(nothing cryptic about it...)

Obama's education rollout

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:33:19 GMT

Citizen J:
Re: your post yesterday about a members-only blog where you have to write an essay...it's not QUITE that exclusive but you do have to register and you do have to play nice, i.e. no food fights. It's www.civildiscourse.com and it is a wonderful haven for intelligent discussions that do not include mention of sloppy seconds. :)

Hope to see you there.

Obama's education rollout

squintz, philly, pa — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:45:23 GMT

Carrie, Eastern Iowa - now usually I agree with you, but I have to counter here. Science and math education is critical. No one argues that lawyers make money, but frankly, too many intelligent students go to law school and too few go to engineering school and we need more engineers (Katrina? Bridges? Automobile manufacturing?). The global economy is becoming more competitive and more technologically-driven. If we do not make the same investments in math and science education our global neighbors are, the US economy will flounder in relation to that of the developing world. It is hard for Americans to grasp, but the rest of the world is not waiting around for us. We are losing the best jobs, the best positions in research universities, you name it, to Asian and Eastern European students EVERY DAY. And it is only getting worse. I know it hurts, fellow liberals, but learning something about globalization helps to frame these issues in a practical way. That's what I love most about Senator Obama, his pragmatic approach to the "lofty" ideals he's always accused of promoting. The man isn't all talk, he understands that the numbers need to be crunched. And don't even get me STARTED on the performance based pay - it is the ONLY way to improve public education, period. Oh, and for all of you "cancel public education" forest dwelling Ron Paulians, take a look at the acceptance rates to top science and engineering programs in this country and see how few come from private high schools...if we need to improve science and math, the private model is NOT coming close. Privatize the post office instead, folks, now that makes some sense!

Obama's education rollout

BIGOLDTEXAN — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:50:14 GMT

American children needs an EDUCATION.
Obama is correct. Our childern our most valuable resoruce if we don`t educate them to compete with the rest of this world they are going to get left behind.
The program that we have now have left so many children behind that they can`t see a future for themselves.

Obama is correct math & science are number one in this world with those two grouped with reading our children do stand a chance to compete.
Don`t hate the man for seeing what our childerns future. will need.

OBAMA '08

Obama's education rollout

Kenny Dillard — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:55:57 GMT

ASSOLUTELY NOT !

Obama's education rollout

Disgusted with Obama — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:57:34 GMT

I loved getting your Obama people all riled up.
You are so easy. Can't wait so see what the Republicans do to your "boy" in the GE.

And by the way...First Ladies even in Arkansas do can not change policy or test scores. Good grief.

Obama's education rollout

Harry, California — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:02:34 GMT

I am a Democrat, if Obama wants to gut the human spaceflight program I will NOT vote for him. NASA is already a very thin slice of the federal budget. We need programs like NASA to give all those future scientists and engineers jobs when they graduate and to inspire people to achieve some higher goal. We have outsourced or are outsourcing all the science and engineering jobs in regular industry, do we really want to do that for NASA as well (outsource human spaceflight capability by buying Soyuz flights for 10 years)?

No Buck Rogers = No Vote.

Obama's education rollout

Arshad, Newburgh, NY — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:14:32 GMT

Those who think public education is a waste of money and ineffective and government should leave it alone, here are a few facts for you.

1) Global economy is increasingly becoming knowledge based economy. So his statement like countried that out educate us today will out compete us tomorrow is absoluetly true. More US economy is going away from naufacturing and becoming service based economy, our economic growth and effectiveness of capitalism will depend on education, research, innovation and entreprenureship.

2) By 2050, top 3 economy in the world are China, US and India as 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And that's not by military might of China or US but exploiting a very highly educated workforce in an increasingly global economy. (And education in China and India are not private but government funded mostly and they are developing an army of world class workforce)

3) In next 20 years, 25% of the people in this country will be haspanic, 25% will be black/asian and 50% will be white. You have to agree, a nation can not progress as a whole by leaving 50% of its population behind. If government can not help to level the playing field for kids coming from lower income or tough family background by ensuring early childhood education so that they don't find themselves significantly behind when enrolled in school, how you can develop an worldclass workforce to compete in global economy. As he suggested, every dollar spent in early childhood education gives you $10 back in reduced high school drop out rate, higher graduation rate, reduced unemployment, reduced crime, reduced welfare dependency in future. It makes perfect sense. Spend more to shape kids future early on instead of building new prison and wait for them to find a place in the prison.

All can argue how to implement them more efficiently, how to provide more decision making to local level and what did we learn from past in terms of what works and what does not and incorporate all these in future planning. But on principle, we have to agree with Obama that building a next generation, world class workforce to compete in global economy and bringing children of all background to transform them in to next generation of doctors, scientist, engineers, econmist.....should be at the top of the agenda of this nation now.

Otherwise, the way American people are seeing their job going to elsewhere, you will continue seeing your children's future will face intense competition from better prepared kids in India and China. No one would like to see that happens. So let's stop cheap criticism and support Obama to finally get something done about education in this country.

Obama's education rollout

Hillary C — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:32:53 GMT

We need a crappy education system in this country. Where else we going to get more liberals?

Obama's education rollout

Stopwatchingfoxnews, Rochester, NY — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:46:16 GMT

As a Hillary supporter, I will back anyone, which I believe to be any Democrat, that will take on education for our inner cities. Obama's plan seems similar to everyone else on the Democrat side. I would much rather see the candidates spelling out what they will do than bashing other democrats. Everyone of the candidates has flipped flopped on a number of issues, so bashing each other just helps the republicans. Vote Hillary in 08' or any Democrat.

Obama's education rollout

B. Honest, Portland OR — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:19:49 GMT

Class Warrior, in his above post, although vitriolic, is absolutely correct. It used to be the Catholic Church did not let anyone learn to read but the clergy, that way they could control all of the ideas that the populace had and keep themselves in power over the governments and kings of the time. Today it is not that much different, those that have power try to do all they can to keep the general public from getting fully educated so that they are more compliant, so that they don't get any ideas that aren't put there by the powers that be. If you are educated then you can see right through all of their hypocritical double-think designed to confuse and confound true justice in this nation. To be truly effective in this world one MUST be well educated. That is one of the reasons that many places in the world are now becoming better places to live than the US. Yes, we are still the top as far as riches in the public sector, but look at the disparity between rich and poor here, the rich are getting tax cuts worth as much as most lower income people make in 10 years, each!! The rest of the world has recognized that in order to compete with the US that they must educate their citizenry better than we do, and they succeed, which is part of what is fueling the changes in attitude amongst our 'client nations' and the world in general. South America, on the whole, has gotten beyond letting the US control them, as they see that we are trying to keep them dumb and pliable, how better to offset this than by educating the populace....and it is working, for them. So many countries used to send massive numbers of students to the US to study, figuring that we had the very best in education, well, not so much anymore, all of that expertise has been offset by those countries spending more on education in their own countries, and keeping their money at home, and turning out better educated citizens to boot. If we really want to stay the best place in the world to live, if we truly want to stay a developed nation, then we MUST spend more on education than we do on defense. Anything less is sure to lead us down the road to being a second world nation, behind China and India and South America.

Obama's education rollout

CJ — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:20:29 GMT

My wife is a teacher...and most of the schools that don't get large community donations are often underfunded. She has to spend hundreds of dollars of her own money on materials every year. Tax deductible but still...it's an immediate expense. No Child Left behind has been counterproductive...certain areas of the semester are spent preparing the kids for tests rather than actually educating them in fundamentals.

Obama's education rollout

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:36:56 GMT

Squintz:

I never said math and science were not important. I disagreed with the post that said this:

"Today's wealthy are people of business and trade - professions that require extensive math and science. Only with sufficient education in those subjects can a person join a social class with sufficient leisure to study philosophy and the arts. "

It is not true that only with a math and science background can one become wealthy or a member of the upper class. It's not even remotely true. Forget about education. I have one name for you: Lebron James. High school education. Makes more money than he could ever spend in a dozen lifetimes.

Obama's education rollout

Lawrence N, Owings Mills, Maryland — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:14:36 GMT

My fellow citizen Harry from California, regards to your comment, r u saying it's not appropriate to cut some NASA budget for education reinforcement proposed by Sen. Obama or r u saying it's better to feed more money to NASA rather than using some of the budget to buttress education weakness in math and science, maybe u r saying spending billions dollars to fly space ship is more a priority educating our kids who are the future of tomorrow strength????.Meanwhile the future of NASA wholly depend on our kids education.

Obama's education rollout

Lawrence N, Owings Mills, Maryland — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:14:52 GMT

Obama's education rollout

Mary Jean, Hendricks NV — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:49:38 GMT

-> I am still waiting for what Senator Clinton
-> is going to say about education....

What ever her aides tell her to say.

-> And what side of the fence she will be on......

Always stradle.

-> And how many days she will hold that position......

Until the polls go negative on her.

-> And how many positions she can have.......

All of them.

-> And the question from the "plant" at the next
-> debate.

Boxers or briefs? No, wait, thats been used. Massengill or Summer's Eve?

Obama's education rollout

Kenneth T, Chicago, Illinois — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:27:48 GMT

Barack, I'm with you on this education plan except for one detail. PLEASE do not touch NASA! NASA is already struggling with a super-thin slice of the federal budget, and Project Constellation is necessary to this nation's future as the leader in human spaceflight! We need programs like Constellation to inspire our younger generations to try to reach for the stars (and get back to the Moon, for one thing), and cutting money from it is not the way to go. I'm all for your education plan Barack, but find the money to fund it elsewhere, and keep Project Constellation going strong!

Obama's education rollout

Jacker Houston Texas — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:35:30 GMT

Osama Obama wants to cut NASA? Hello? This seems like fuzzy math. I don't think Obama has his head screwed on right. We give six tenths of a percent of the Fed Budget to NASA. Why not cut the sweet heart pension plan of Congress and the house by 80% and put them in our "Social Security/Medicare mess". The difference could go to education and we might actually be able to retire at 65 because they would be forced to fix "the mess".

Obama's education rollout

C. P., Austin, Texas — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:50:10 GMT

To: SayItAin'tSo and Harry:

First, NASA is not the primary source of employment for government engineers and scientists - defense spending employs many times more engineers and scientists than NASA does. Do not fret, there will be plenty of engineering jobs for the children in today's preschool at NASA in twenty or more years time. Let's first focus on getting them the education that will position themselves for meaningful employment. Second, NASA will not fall to pieces over a delay of five years for a program. NASA leaders and personnel have a very long perspective when it comes to funding complex projects. Third, it is merely a plan - not law - and a point of departure for a national discussion. The plans may still require compromise, work and fine tuning, but the principles and foundation are well placed. Personally I have not seen another candidate who comes close to this earnest discussion with the voting public.

At least Obama is willing to demonstrate the courage and conviction to suggest a detailed plan.

To Disgusted with Obama: Perhaps you should troll elsewhere. Your vacuous comments stand in stark contrast to the majority of the well thought-out comments listed above.

Thank you.

Obama's education rollout

Educator — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:53:07 GMT

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Obama!

Thank you for beginning the conversation about education.

I hope all the candidates will follow. And I hope voters demand the debate.

Obama's education rollout

Former OBAMA supporter — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 14:08:49 GMT

Once again, we see more of the same. The real issues are:
1. The need for improved instructional methodologies.
2. The need for improved curriculum content.
3. The need for longer school years.
4. The public should get employable people for the money they spend on education!
5. We need more American children to go to college and graduate school!
6. An end to mandatory attendance. Schools need to attract students, not incarcerate them.

Obama's education rollout

Jim Stevens — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:49:35 GMT

Supporting NASA is supporting math and science.

Go Constellation! No to Obama!

Obama's education rollout

edusace — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:08:16 GMT

The answer is simple and direct. Space exploration, with its attendant technology development AND education are both important, so fully fund them both at strong levels. This country is strong enough to do both

Obama's education rollout

Dawn Le Pichouron, Troy, MI — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:48:44 GMT

I haven't fully decided who I'm in favor of voting for, yet. But when I do, I will make sure it is a candidate who shows the most promise in improving our compulsory public education system nationwide. Our nation is in crisis because every one of the problems addressed by our leaders, today, can ultimately be tied in some form to consequences of poor educational standards and enforcement of our children's civil rights to a Free and Appropriate Education: crime, warfare, international policy rifts, economic crisis, welfare, poverty, family instability and amorality. We have many leaders, today, who lack the insight, innovation, and concern for the common good borne more successfully of a solid education that includes not only the basics of math, science and literacy, but is also balanced with philosophy, social sciences, physical education, the arts, global awareness, and the importance of service to others in our communities. It far cheaper to proactively "fix" these problems with preventative measures that include stronger policies and financial support of quality education in our country, than by reacting to the consequences by "throwing money" at crisis management. Funding of education beginning with early childhood intervention, concurrent with better training of and full accountability from our educators and policymakers nationwide, should be our nation's top priority. If that is a promise Obama can deliver, then he will have my vote!

Obama's education rollout

Thinking in Minnesota — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:11:44 GMT

Funding education is thee most important factor in contributing to my vote. Obama has some great ideas. He has my attention. What I question as a parent and an educator is how districts are expected to meet standards in which they have high populations of Special Education students and Non-English speaking students. Those two groups cause districts to miss annual yearly progress set up by the government all over the US. My thinking is that those on an Individual Education Plan (IEP) should not be held to the same standard as the rest of the district and that these teachers for special populations already have enough on their plate with the mountain of paperwork and manditory reporting they must do that has been set up by the Gov. Also although I am not for deportation of illegals I am concerned about the amount of money paid out by us to educate them and their affect on the No Child Left Behind. We need solutions to this problem.

Obama's education rollout

Dawn Le Pichouron, Troy, MI — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:22:04 GMT

The "two groups" mentioned by "Thinking in Minnesota", namely Special Education and LEP (Limited English proficient) students, do not cause districts to miss AYP (Average Yearly Progress) - abysmal gaps in our state and federal government reporting, monitoring, and funding requirements processes are to blame. Special Education students, in particular, are already getting the "short shrift" in our public education systems nationwide, as evidenced by alarming data both publicly and not-so-publicly available for research. As many as 1/3 of all students in our country need or will need some sort of education accommodations during K-12 and beyond, and yet a staggering percentage of these are underperforming academically or dropping out of school altogether by Grade 9. This is not because of their inability to learn, but because of a system that penalizes both students and educators for the need to support and address FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) for these students. These children are not the problem, but they do represent our future. Sweeping them under the rug and out of sight is not the answer, unless we are willing to place the burden of a very large and expensive population of institutionalized adults upon our children and future generations of Americans. The answer, instead, lies with our government leaders' willingness to step up to the plate and either reform NCLB, IDEA and the ADA to address these serious deficits undermining our children's education, or take a wrecking ball to all of it and start from scratch with a better system. It is time for our state and federal governments to address the "real" problems by requiring and financially rewarding LEAs (Local Education Agencies) and SEAs (State Education Agencies) for full, accurate accounting for Special Education and LEP student progress, programs and services, by the numbers, instead of by maintaining a system that encourages LEAs and SEAs to massage the numbers in competition for federal funding.