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[falcondream]

The email today from President Elect Obama "We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next." says so much. We DO have a lot of work to do and I am SO pleased about the fact that we have this opportunity. So pleased.

Comments

[puddysma]

Things are never perfect and there have always been things that need change or improvement in this system of ours...but the opportunity to do anything about those problems is nothing new. It has always been here for us but the problem is we tend to forget this governement is a true reflection of who we are as a people and it IS a government by and for the people. We DO and always have had the power to change those seated in power, to find out who they are before we elect them, and change what we do not like. But it cannot be done when we sit back and wait for someone to come along and do things for us. When we are so apathetic that it opens doors for unsavory characters to come in and make changes that are not necessarily for the betterment...and this applies to our private relationships as well

[falcondream]

I agree with what you are saying although I think Obama is capable of inspiring others to do their best perhaps more than our more recent leaders were. He is a balm to US citizens and a symbol that can inspire respect outside the US. I do believe he is the right man for this time and I'm oh so happy he was elected.

[puddysma]

i sure hope so. Times are so difficult it is hard to know, but i agree he has been an inspiration to so many who have been uninspired

[falcondream]

I really liked the fact that he instructed parents to take responsibility, to not leave it all to the schools while STILL wanting to improve the schools.

[puddysma]

Yes, that is a point on which i agree fully. He actually makes several points to which i agree

[falcondream]

I don't know how to answer this coherently as a whole.

I think No Child Left Behind caused more teaching to the tests and was not a good move. I think teachers should be paid well and be held accountable but not by the student's performance because that punishes teachers with difficult students. I think learning disabilities are real and different people have different learning styles and it does no good to try to shove a round peg in a square hole. I think the purpose of the school system is to ensure a basic level of competency in the citizenry. I think if kids learn to think that is success. For example, in science, I'd rather a student understand the scientific method than memorize the periodic table.

But how to fix it? I don't know.

It affects us all, even if our children have finished school.