Re: [xmca] Obama's Learn Act

[Tony Whitson <twhitson@UDel.Edu>]

I see 2 issues here:

1. is the general approach to education

2. is the specific concern with infant - preK programs

I'll respond on #1, but I don't want that to eclipse #2

On #1, & Mike's question about Obama & his preoccupations:

Obama has a lot on his plate, and listing the big ones like Pakistan, 
health care, and the economy necessarily neglects the numerous more narrow 
things that he himself is involved with every week.

His approach is to compromise, so education policy has followed the big 
compromise in appointing Duncan as the Secretary of Education.

On that, I think Bill Ayers made a lot of sense, at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-ayers/obama-and-education-refor_b_154857.html

A less accepting view from the late & much lamented Gerald Bracey, at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-bracey/the-hatchet-job-on-linda_b_155104.html

For a view from the other side, here's somebody warning against the 
sinister influence on Obama of the Ayers-Hammond-Billings axis of evil:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-bracey/the-hatchet-job-on-linda_b_155104.html
(That's Darling-Hammond and Ladson-Billings. At one point he does refer 
to the "Ayers-Hammond approach".))

BTW, for anyone who doesn't know, Ayers is now AERA Vice-President for 
Division B (Curriculum, my own home division).

On Sun, 13 Dec 2009, mike cole wrote:

> In lieu or in addition, Catherine?
> I see nothing to celebrate in the current administration's educational
> priorities. I do know that some on XMCA have been spending time in
> Washington pushing for alternatives with apparently no success. Perhaps the
> failure of banks to lend, the difficulties of extricating ourselves from
> decades of disasterous foreign policies, and health care have distracted
> Obama from attending to this issue. On the other hand, perhaps he "just
> doesn't get it."
>
> What would you like to discuss on this topic?
> mike
>
> On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 7:51 AM, <cconnery@ithaca.edu> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > In lieu of this thread, it might be interesting to see what Obama's
> > "secretary of education" has proposed for children birth-preK. The new
> > "LEARN" act has been described as Bush's educational policy on steroids.
> > Here is section 9 of the act:
> >
> > SEC. 9. SUBGRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES IN SUPPORT OF BIRTH THROUGH
> > KINDERGARTEN ENTRY LITERACY.
> > (e) Local Uses of Funds-
> > (1) IN GENERAL- An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this
> > section shall use the subgrant funds consistent with the plan proposed in
> > subsection (c) to carry out the following activities:
> > (C) SCREENING ASSESSMENTS AND MEASURES- Acquiring, providing training for,
> > and implementing screening assessments or other appropriate measures to
> > determine whether children from birth through kindergarten entry are
> > developing appropriate early language and literacy skills.
> >
> > Cathrene
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
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Tony Whitson
UD School of Education
NEWARK  DE  19716

twhitson@udel.edu
_______________________________

"those who fail to reread
 are obliged to read the same story everywhere"
                  -- Roland Barthes, S/Z (1970)
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