A note to responsible voters...

Voters, have you seen the bumper sticker that says, "Wag more, bark less"? As voting citizens, it is critical we do the opposite: Bark MORE, wag less! 

It's foolish to reside in a democracy where voters remain dormant and don't vocalize for change. Now's the time! We are entering into a new election year and it's time that voting citizens in America speak up. Especially now because our economy is suffering. Perhaps, had voters barked more and wagged less, our economy would not be in this slump that it is now. 

Stop hiding from No Child Left Behind and seek it!

During a town hall meeting, Senator McCain announced that No Child Left Behind should be repaired, not repealed. McCain criticizes the areas of testing in No Child Left Behind; however, he fails to offer a concrete solution.

Why are our presidential candidates hiding from No Child Left Behind? The success of America depends on educated children and Americans aren't receiving the opportunity to select a president who advocate for our future. 

I urge you to follow up on this issue. Go to the Web site below and find out what organizations like the National Education Association are doing to advocate for change in America's education system. Help start a grass roots movement to revive our education system... before it's too late!

http://www.nea.org/newsreleases/2007/nr070605.html 

No Child Left Behind: The Empty Slogan?

Be concerned America! This country’s success depends on the success of our children. Our education system is declining drastically while we listen to presidential debates that deal primarily with our present economic catastrophy. What about the future?

Barack Obama said at the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly that No Child Left Behind has become “one of the emptiest slogans in the history of American politics.”

Obama's absolutely right! NCLB is an empty slogan. But Why? Because it's absent from the presidential debates.

Listen up, Barack! Revitalize the slogan! Make NCLB a priority in the debates. It's your time to shine. Not for today, but for tomorrow. Yes, YOU can!

Hilary on No Child Left Behind

Yesterday, I saw a 30 second television ad on behalf of Hilary Clinton's campaign. She mentioned that she was going to produce more jobs by having oil companies invest in green energy. In addition, she said that she was going to put an end to No Child Left Behind.

How?

Hilary had the opportunity to do something no presidential candidate has done thus far: establish her credibility by offering a strategy for ending No Child Left Behind. Clinton had a strategy for creating more jobs and no strategy for ending NCLB. If presidential candidates want to act on NCLB, PLEASE offer a method for action.

Unemployment rates are rising. Job security is becoming obsolete. Birth rates have hit an all-time low. High school drop out rates are progressively increasing.

The future of America is looking bleak. If less people are having children and the children that are in school are dropping out, the pool of individuals to pick from to run our country's future leaves "slim-pickin's".

It's time that America tackles our education epidemic in order sufficiently educate the K-12 generation. If it's not effectively dealt with by our future presidents, here's what's left: drop out rates continue to increase. Children who remain and don't drop out receive less-than-favorable education. That leaves the generation of our future. Leaders who are insufficiently educated.

Please, lets encourage our candidates to come up with a strategic method to steer education in the right track. Encourage presidential candidates to debate No Child Left Behind!

Proactive Presidents: Address No Child Left Behind!

While criticizing "testing over teaching" in the No Child Left Behind act, John Edwards said, "You Don't Make a Hog Fatter by Weighing it." Hilary Clinton says that the act is simply not working and Barack Obama claims that the NCLB needs a serious overhaul.

Oh yea? So what do they propose should be done to correct the problem? Clinton and Obama are both potential future presidents and they aren't addressing the problem; they are simply criticizing it.

There are countless problems to criticize within American democracy. The easy part is to bad-mouth the situation rather than sort out a solution. I need a proactive president: show, don't tell. Lets debate!




http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/us/politics/23child.html

Presidential Debates Are Leaving Children Behind

It's no secret that the quality of education in the United States is lacking. With the November elections rapidly approaching, we are entertained by mud-slinging instead of addressing hot-topic issues such as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Critics of the NCLB Act argue that standardized assessments are motivating educators to "teach to the test" while supporters assert that this systematic testing is revealing which schools are in need of intervention. As constituents, we could ponder the pros and cons of both arguments all day long; however, the question must be raised: Why aren't our presidential candidates? 

If the future of our nation is in the hands non-satisfactory education, how are we supposed to adequately educate our up-and-coming politicians? Folks, leave the mud-slinging at the door and focus on the youth. Mud-slinging doesn't determine our future.