Highlights on Education from President Obama’s State of the Union

Last night, the President addressed topics such as technology, energy, taxes, immigration and more, but here are a few highlights on what he said about the education of Americans:

“If we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas – then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.”

“Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us – as citizens, and as parents – are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.”

“When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don’t meet this test.”

“Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning.”

“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. 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. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones. And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math."


What do you think of what President Obama said about education? Let us know.