Barack Obama in Teachers Under Attack!, by Mike Spina

On Education: Increase school choice & accountability within NCLB

President Barack Obama has been attempting to have the NCLB law rewritten by making accountability even tougher and making school choice more available to parents of children in failing schools. In fact, Obama and Governor Christie appear to be on the same page when it comes to education reforms such as merit pay although Obama has not gone to the same extreme as Christie in his plan to repeal state tenure laws for teachers. Source: Teachers Under Attack!, by Mike Spina, p. 91 Feb 17, 2011

On Education: To make a difference for kids, become a teacher

President Obama [said in his] State of the Nation address: "Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom," said President Obama. "In South Korea, teachers are known as 'nation builders.' Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect."

A short time later Obama continued, "In fact, to every young person who's listening tonight contemplating their career choice: if you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child--become a teacher. Your country needs you."

Notice that Obama said "after parents." The President recognizes that parents and the home environment are THE most important cog in a child's education and THEN comes the teacher. That is directly opposite what Christie believes. The Governor believes that teachers are at least 50% responsible for a student's test scores.

Source: Teachers Under Attack!, by Mike Spina, p.199 Feb 17, 2011

The above quotations are from Teachers Under Attack! How NJ Governor Chris Christie's Personal Vendetta Against Teachers Will Destroy Public Education by Mike Spina. Click here for other excerpts from Teachers Under Attack! How NJ Governor Chris Christie's Personal Vendetta Against Teachers Will Destroy Public Education by Mike Spina. Click here for other excerpts by Barack Obama. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Feb 25, 2019