Corporal punishment still allowed in 15 states??

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/corporal-punishment_us_58337528e4b030997bc0efad?section=us_education

It is absolutely insane that there are still 15 states in our contry that allow corporal punishment.  Not only that, but there are seven additional states that don't "prohibit it".  Our education system in the United States is certainly not top notch in comparison to other countries, and it's reasons like this why. The article addresses a letter that was sent by the Obama administration, specifically by Secretary of Education, John King Jr., requesting (and giving reasons why) that school officers and governors should eliminate the practice in ALL states.  Not only is it obsurd that the practice is something that even still takes place, but African American children (male and female) are victims of physical discipline more frequently than white students - so are students with disabilities.  This adds yet another layer of sadness to this issue.  My hope is that this letter will prompt change in our education system and society as a whole.  So many students need their classroom and school to be a safe, consistent place for them that they may not have outside of school walls.  The thought of students coming to school in fear of their teachers, peers, and other adults is sickening to me.

Tests are Boring

“Obama Says Too Much Testing Makes Education Boring” by Stacy Anderson
NPR, March 28, 2011 Accessed: March 28, 2011

Topic: Standardized testing is not the way to go.

Summary: Obama is pushing for a rewrite of federal education laws. He is critical of No Child Left Behind and of the overuse of standardized testing.

Intended audience: General Public

Key Points:

• Too much testing makes education boring for kids.
• “Schools should be judged on criteria other than student test performance, including attendance rate”
• Obama administration would like to change standards from No Child Left Behind to a new standard saying that by 2020 all students graduating from high school should be ready for college or a career.

Relevance: Teaching to the test is a hot topic as is No Child Left Behind. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. What does “ready for college or a career” even mean? I’ve also posted a video from during Obama’s campaign for president that shows his opinion then is in-tune with his opinion now on the issue of standardized testing.

Obama's 2012 Education Budget

"The Problem(s) with Obama's 2012 Education Budget" by Valerie Strauss
The Washington Post
Posted online on February 14, 2011
Complete URL:  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/education-secretary-duncan/the-problems-with-obamas-2012.html

Ms. Strauss butchers President Obama's 2012 Education Budget Proposal by saying his budget will not improve  public schools.  And she states the $77.4 billion proposal will probably be reduced even more as it will have to go through the Republican controlled House of Representatives where more cuts will be made (as was the case in 2011 Education Budget which has not yet passed Congress).  She goes on to say that Obama's budget, "is really a restatement of the administration’s ineffective educational values: increased competition for funding rather than equitable distribution of resources, more dependence on standardized tests for evaluation, more punishment for lowest-performing schools and an expansion of charter schools."

Strauss also maintains that Obama's "Race to the Top" initiative did not improve the educational system as his administration contends.  In her opinion, "Race to the Top" takes money away from effective programs such as ones like the Harlem Children's Zone that deals holistically with education in poverty stricken areas or Career and Technical Programs which will receive $264 million less than last year.  Strauss even argues  Education Secretary, Arne Duncan (who worked on the 2012 budget with Obama) is being hypocritical because he, "criticized No Child Left Behind’s (also a part of "Race to the Top") emphasis on standardized testing as resulting in narrowed curriculum and other problems, yet he still, inexplicably, wants more."

In the little reading I did on Obama's 2012 Education Budget, it appears he is playing to the centrist position of America knowing it will not make the left or the right sides happy, but hoping this will help him pass something through the divided Congressional chambers.  There will be many more articles written about the new budget, but this is a good primer for all to read so they know where our 2012 dollars will go towards education.  There is also a link in the column to the actual budget document for those who would like further detail.  It looks like the debate on the budget will be an interesting one!