Christi Parsons
Obama, Bill and Melinda Gates: Education Boosters (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-boston-20110309,0,3705721.story)
L.A. Times via The Washington Bureau
March 8, 2011
Summary: An overview of President Obama's push to fund education and the criticisms that he faces in a time of tight state budgets. It is noted that the phrase "Win the Future" is becoming increasing partisan. There is a strange disconnect between the title of the article and its contents. The contents are more or less objectively stated facts about Obama's campaign and the oposition it faces, while the title would lead one to believe that Obama et al are the saviors of education. Interesting to note, though I am not sure what it means (if anything).
Intended Audience: General Public
Key Points: 1) The President is intent on throwing more money at the education system and furthering its reform. "It's not either more money or more reform, it's both more money and more reform." 2) Republicans are skeptical about the proposed budget (not surprising)
Relevance: More content regarding the push for educational reform, the budget deficit, and the increasing flow of private money into the education system.
The LA Times painting the President as a hero?...I'm shocked. :) It's a testament to a smidge of bias...(irony intended)
ReplyDeleteThat said, the United States spends more per student than all other countries except Switzerland and yet the quality of education is not close to the top of the list of countries. It makes me wonder what the disconnect is in how we spend that money and how other countries can get it done with less. (Arguably, measuring the "quality of education" can mean different things but...)
Does throwing more money at a problem solve it? Not always, and probably not in this case.
Calling any public official a hero for spending someone else's money? That has never made sense to me.