Soon after former President Bush told us about a proposed No Child Left Behind act, I know plenty of people shouted, “Amen!” Finally, someone with “juice” acknowledged that the adults in the schools around the nation were not getting the job done. Finally, we could place emphasis on the elephant in the room — that education needed to be improved for students of color, students living in poverty, students with disabilities, and students learning English. Hooray, one of the most powerful people in the world spoke of an achievement gap, measures for success, equitable distribution of qualified teachers, the right to a qualified teacher, and addressing longstanding inequality in schooling and the society. Finally! The President of the United States decided that the education of the America’s citizens is a true national priority.
So why are there so many critics? Why didn’t the recent Presidential race address this issue in any depth? Has President Obama signaled that he will make a discussion on how we educate America’s citizens his highest priority? Is the education of American citizens the most important issue for the new President — even now?
Let’s join the conversation that George Bush advanced. Today, let’s talk about issues surrounding the education of America’s citizens and the idea that schooling is the way to address longstanding inequalities in this society — what is all this achievement gap talk. I’ll see you in the Howard Thurman Center, today, 3-5 p.m. I’ll have plenty of coffee and cookies, you bring the conversation.
See you soon. Stay well.
(White House photo by Chris Greenberg.)
