Obama's solution: Fire Teachers, Leave Poor Kids Behind

Well I am in complete disagreement with Obama on the issue of education.

He came out today in support of the firing of every teacher in a low performing school. And he suggested more teachers need to be fired so there is accountability.

How about firing politicians who underfund our educational system! Firing politicians who expand wars we can't afford and increase military spending while freezing all other spending.

How about hiring MORE teachers so class sizes can be reduced!

Our local district is an underachieving district - now on probation from No Child Left Behind. I do not blame the teachers or want them fired! There are many factors that influence the success of students - such as the education of their parents, their parents ability to support and encourage the students, the culture of the community in which they are growing up, the socioeconomic level of the students. What the students eat has an enormous effect on their ability to learn and the poor kids who get government meals are fed the most processed disgusting food imaginable. I know - I worked at such a school and although I can eat almost anything, I could not eat the lunches provided to the kids.

Fact is poverty has been proven to inhibit the development of the brain, hindering young students ability to perform when compared to children growing up free from poverty.

In our school's case we have many students who are speaking English as a second language, many of who's parents are migrant farm workers. Of course they will score lower on tests than the kids in Palo Alto who's parents work at Stanford!

Standardized tests also fail to fairly test students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

If we fire teachers in low achieving schools, who in their right mind would choose to work at such a school. This will surely drive teachers away from the schools where they are needed the most. Once again, Poor Kids are Left Behind, I guess it was presumptuous of me to think having a man of color in the White House would change that.

If Obama wants to solve education, which will improve our economy, environment, politics, etc.; he needs to role back the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest in this nation and stop the Bush Wars in the Middle East and put those resources instead into our crumbling educational system.

Try returning dynamic art, athletic, and music programs to public schools. Feed the students organic whole foods, provide an engaging fun environment - reduce class size!!! Give teachers money to attend professional development seminars.

How about providing a living wage to the kids parents so they do not have to work three jobs and can instead be home with their kids after school.

Blaming teachers for low achieving schools is like blaming doctors for the increase in childhood obesity and diabetes.