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Here on this blog I hope to get a conversation going amongst students, teachers, administrators, and parents about who, what, when, why, and where we should teach technology skills for the 21st century. I am technology teacher at Truckee High School in Truckee, CA and currently teach classes like digital media, e-learning, applications, and keyboarding -- yes...still important! :) Please Join the Conversation!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

State of the Union Speech - President of the United States

Below you will find the link to watch the 1 hr speech by our President earlier this week. In this speech, he says a lot about education. Watch the entire talk and then comment below on your thoughts regarding his plans and hopes for education in our nation.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/24/us/politics/state-of-the-union-2012-video-transcript.html?src=tp

7 comments:

  1. Good speech was very good, it talks about Obama that the U.S. is a country that leads the world in education and the hard work has its vatagens. That in politics today is not the Democratic or Republican value but the value of the U.S., because here is the largest automobile manufacturers and companies in electronics.

    I think the government has to take seriously the issue in the debate that Obama says, because they are serious matters and can help or hurt the country, because these issues are very important for everyone.

    I would point to improving education in school material, qualified teachers, evidence to test the quality and how much aulo learned throughout the semester, after school hours to aulos which has more difficulties and helps in homework.

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  2. Obama said that when students don’t walk away from their education, then more of them graduate High School. When some students choose to not drop out of high school, they achieve a lot more. Right after that little section of his speech, he also said that he proposes that every state REQUIRES that every student needs to stay in high school until they graduate, or can’t drop out until they’re 18 years old. The President also stated that higher education (colleges) can’t be a luxury, it has to be more, and easier/cheaper for students to attend. He also said, “If you can’t stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Another topic Obama discussed was Teachers. He said that teachers matter, and they do whatever they can to supply the tools that students need in that class. Good teachers deserve to get rewarded, because some teachers go out of their way to get supplies, and help inspire students to stay in school, do good in classes, to go to college, and make something of their lives. Instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, Obama wants to offer the schools a deal. He wants to give the teachers the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones.
    I think what Obama stated is completely true. Students can’t keep dropping out, when we all know that they could make something of their lives instead of throwing everything away. When Obama said that students were to either graduate, or drop out of high school at 18, I don’t think that they should even be allowed to drop out. School is a requirement, correct? Then they should be required to stay in school until graduation, then it’s your choice if you want to continue education in college or not. I agree that college shouldn’t be such a luxury, because parents are in more intuition debt than they are credit card debt. College shouldn’t be so hard to get into because of how high the prices are, it should be way cheaper so students can make even more of their lives besides high school, or middle school. I also agree that the best teachers should be awarded for what they do, considering they do a lot to help students accomplish their future or goals.
    If I were president, I would definitely make a law that every student is to stay in school until High School Graduation, that way they receive all the important knowledge that they need for the lives. Even if they don’t go to college, they still have the minimum amount of education they would need for their adult lives.
    -Dorothy Siino

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  3. I didn't really like the speech but Obama basically wanted to make everyone have the same taxes make new jobs stop outsourcing and improve our economy.

    His ideas may have been good but I don't think he was trying to accomplish all of them in the right way because there are better ways to stop out sourcing and improve our economy.

    Also the education suggestion he said was a well thought out idea. Especially about lower tuition for college because if you have to pay a lot to get in a college then they should be making enough money not to need more from the government. -Dude

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  4. The president made many points, exclamations of his thoughts, and announcements of change, and plans for Education in his 2012 State of Union Address. President Obama hopes to be able to give schools the resources they need (money,supplies, etc.) to keep the good teachers teaching well, with creativity and flexibility. Meanwhile, replacing any teachers that aren't giving the students the education they need and or deserve. He proposed the idea that in every state, students should be required to remain in school until they graduate, or turn eighteen.Saying,"When students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better." He stated that people are deeper in tuition loan debt than credit debt. He said that we should stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July, because this is not acceptable. He hopes to extend the tuition tax credit, that helps make it possible for middle class people to pay their way through collage. He also proposed to increase work- study jobs in the next five years, so students can pay their way through school more easily. But, they cant just supply more money for tuition, they'll run out of money. So, to help compensate for this, and even out costs he hopes colleges and universities will do their part to keep tuition costs down. Also, states need to make a higher education a higher priority in their budgets. He states that if colleges and universities can't keep their tuition from going up, funding from taxpayers will go down. He thinks education shouldn't be a luxury, but something everyone can afford.
    I think, all the points made in this speech on Education are valid. I agree that making school necessary for anyone below eighteen, or necessary until a student graduates. Children need to understand that school is an important thing, and that even if their struggling, they have to push through, graduate, and not give up. From my point of view, schools do need more resources and funding. I think, when a teacher has to pay with money out of their pocket to supply their classroom with the resources they need to teach properly, in not okay. I hope as well, that a change will occur, and funding will be given to schools. I also agree with keeping only the teachers that are doing their jobs correctly, and removing any teachers whom are teaching poorly, or carelessly. I want to be able to go to college, so I agree with lowering tuition loan interest rates, and giving opportunities for more student job availability. I believe that Education is of the utmost importance, and should be available to all, poor, middle class, and wealthy.
    If I were president, I think I would probably state similar points as President Obama has stated. I would just try to do everything I could to make Education of a high importance, because your education helps determine what the rest of your life will be like. So, points I would make would be, to properly fund schools and teachers, to make school necessary, no dropping out allowed, and lastly, I would try to make college as inexpensive as possible.
    -Chloe Champion

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  5. i agree with our President because our he has done little to nothing to our economy.i also think that if did not want to lay off so many teachers that he wants to change to get a better education. He also wants to cut down on on payments for collage and wants to reward teacher who teach and do something about the teachers who don't, he wants to do is because he thinks teachers matter. he also wants to let kid finish high school or they can leave once 18 years old
    He also wants to do things better for our country, like add more work in our country, and buy less stuff form other country and do more thing for our country. He also wants more people working here instead of leaving to another country and working there.

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  6. I think that Obama's speech was a very good speech. The part about the education was good. The president stated that the troops in Iraq are coming back home. He also stated that every state shouldn't allow anyone to drop out of high school until they are eighteen.~mauricio

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  7. I believe president Obama had several valid points about the education system in the United States. Many hardworking American men and women graduate high school with honors, but simply cannot afford to go to college and get a higher education. I believe the Senate should take measures to make college more affordable to high school graduates. President Obama suggested tax cuts to more middle class families, while taxing the more rich individuals in order to pay for cheaper college educations.-Austin

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