We Have to Race to the Top -- Join the Effort

Race To The Top people! We can reform our education program. Last night Obama made a speech about the Race To The Top, a program formed by Republicans and Democrats not by Washington. This program replaces the No Child Left Behind Law. The No Child Left Behind Law is a law designed to ensure that K-12 children receive a proper education but it has had mixed results and been very controversial.

Did you know that less than 1 percent of what we spend on education has led to higher standards of learning and teaching? This is important because as a country we have put less value on education, and Obama says that it is time we shape up -- we should put more value on learning, teachers, and students to get our children a better education! And a better education leads to a better future for each and all of us.

Bruce Randolph, a school in Denver, was one of the worst schools in Colorado; one of the reasons is that there were two rival gangs near the school. Last May, though it was rated a bad school, 97 percent of the seniors graduated and got their diploma.

Obama said, "In fact, to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child -- become a teacher. Your country needs you." 

Obama noted that teachers and parents effect a child's success.

Written by Clara and Anya