THE EDUCATION POSER

Our President made education remarks yesterday. He spoke some true things, so why brand him a poser?

First know that these words are from a teacher who has homeschooled and also taught in public and private schools. My grandmother taught second grade in the same room for 32 years. Our daughter teaches; her husband is a principal. We have two grandchildren in the public schools. We are all about education. These remarks are not directed at education.

President Obama is on the ropes and all his poll numbers are in the tank. There is nowhere for him to go on the issues that top the list (economy/security) because he has bupkis to show there. So he fakes to the middle and picks a topic with which no one can disagree. Who would not want better schools? But things are not that simple. Consider his comments on three levels... veracity, good-for-the-goose/good-for-the-gander, and a hail mary.

VERACITY

Two years ago, this President said a lot of very reasonable things that sounded good. But even the simplest of campaign promises did not materialize. Why would we now assume he is telling the truth about education? Would it be to his advantage to deflect public attention from the top tier issues? Yes. It is less than 35 days until the midterms. Can he make a convincing case for school improvement? Of course! Many inner-city public schools are dying on the vine. Would he REALLY fire the incompetent teachers? Hmm. His biggest supporters are unions. Think the teacher unions will fawn over such ideas?

GOOD FOR THE GOOSE/GOOD FOR THE GANDER

One lady asked the President..."but what about your girls going to private schools". To be fair, there is a good case that could be made about the security of presidential daughters in public schools. Got that. But the reason that question rings true in our minds is because the President has a track record of calling the "people" to one thing while reserving another thing for himself. Such as?

We tighten our budget while the President is living large and going on six

summer vacations (plus the First Lady's nice trip to Spain).

We are invited to a job summit to help us run our businesses, while the

President runs his business with a cabinet comprised of

only 8% who have any business experience.

We are told that there is a point when we have enough money...

while his purse bulges and First Dog Bo rides a separate jet to vacation.

THE HAIL MARY

The Washington D.C. school system tried the voucher system. That system was a fair way for ANYONE to pick their schools and not be a prisoner of the public school system. But who stopped that voucher system in Washington? The ones opposing the voucher system were the same voices that continue to fund the present broken system...the President and his party and the unions. When they squashed the program, a desperate cry went up from the scholarship students who were attending the private schools. Would they have to go back to public? The President compromised and set aside money to pay their education through 12th grade. Those students squeaked through, but what about the rest of the next generation from public housing?

The voucher system would create competition. The beauty of competition is that it floats all boats. If public schools are shaken up for a while...GOOD! They will compete for survival and that will be purifying. The president could prove his words about how he cares about children.

This link says it so well...think outside the box, President Obama, and give the children a choice! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7FS5B-CynM