Comments on: Obama aides ‘educate’ children, young adults

By: Patricia Shannon

Patricia Shannon — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:22:47 +0000

It’s hard to know how to have a dialog with someone who thinks grammar is more important than mass devastation and death. However, you do make me feel better about the possibility that the human race may become extinct.

By: Tom James

Tom James — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:26:05 +0000

With the new age of the technology, teachers and parents should teach our children more about the reality that our country is living, taking class curriculum teachers must show the problems of the country ... the problem starts not only at home but also from k 12 instruction ...

By: Disappointed

Disappointed — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:11:01 +0000

Let me get this straight Bob Barr. The Secretary of Energy is talking to school kids about climate change and this is bad because kids have bigger problems in school. The Census Bureau is talking to kids about the importance of the 10-year census and this is bad because students should be reading the Bill of Rights instead. I used to think this type of writing was beneath you. You discredit yourself with these absurd arguements.

By: Jefferson

Jefferson — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Why not just give a “F” when a “F” is earned? When you start accepting mediocrity we become 2nd rate.

By: bob

bob — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:56:18 +0000

Peter, Sonny Perdue is responsible for his kids learning to read, not yours or anyone elses, just his.
Geaorgia has always ranked low in education and Sonny had nothing to do with it. An article listing the top 25 public schools was run recently in the ACJ, 8/25/09. It had 6 schools in Fulton County with an average SAT over the national average of 1509. Look at some other Fulton County schools that were not even close and ask, why would schools that are close to being equally funded have such a wide gap in scores ? According to Peter, it’s Sonny Perdue’s fault, but in reality it’s the parents fault.

By: Shaneneeee Faneneeeeeee

Shaneneeee Faneneeeeeee — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:49:57 +0000

We have so little going on in this country our President is worried about getting the Olympics oddly enough where he was a Senator and probably some of his friends will benefit from this. Go get em Obama, that is a top priority. ????????????

By: KidsRpeople2

KidsRpeople2 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:09:51 +0000

Progressive school boards and state legislatures recognize that Physical/Corporal Punishment of Children in Schools is falling out of favor worldwide and have banned paddling, opting to train educators in and implement proven more effective school-wide positive behavior support discipline methods. Corporal Punishment of Children in Schools is an outmoded, ineffective and dangerous practice that has been banned in more than l00 countries. It puts school districts at risk for lawsuits for paddling injuries, which is the main reason many districts already have abandoned it.
Research indicates that spanking lowers children’s IQ’s. Research on toddlers and other studies following children into adolescence found Physical Punishment was BAD FOR CHILDREN and made them more likely to show anti-social behavior. Children who were exposed to physical discipline most frequently were two to three times more likely to show anti-social behavior as an adolescent, including things like getting into fights, being disobedient at home or at school, general delinquency and being in trouble with teachers. Violence begets violence is a lesson from history not just child psychology.” Over 50 National Children’s Health and Safety Organizations are OPPOSED to School Corporal Punishment including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bar Association, the National PTA (Parent Teacher Association), National Education Association, among others. There are positive, nonviolent approaches to school discipline that have been proven to lead to safe environments in which children can learn. Positive behavioral supports teach children why what they did was wrong and gives them the tools necessary to improve their behavior. The staff in our schools must be trained on how to discipline children effectively and humanely.
Physical Punishment of schoolchildren is NOT Education’s “Best Practice” as it is ILLEGAL in 30 STATES. U.S. Congress is holding hearings on Abusive and DEADLY practices in SCHOOLS and MUST ABOLISH Physical/Corporal Punishment Nationwide of ALL Children in ALL Schools, The Cost is $0. Pushing for anything less than an outright ban on all forms of classroom abuse reveals a gap in the administration’s professed commitment to making schools better, safer, and stronger.

By: Pittsburgh Al

Pittsburgh Al — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:33:13 +0000

Enter your comments here
Mr. Barr you write a very biased column about an Administration you just don’t like. Obama has a lot of problems on his plate and clearly education is one of them. But neither he or his Administration has anything to do with the current state of affairs. The “No Child Left Behind” has been an utter failure. Quite frankly though, I’m not sure what can be done. The solution starts with parents who either have little education themselves and don’t care or have completely lost control of their children. How do we legislate better parenting? Are we going to fine all parents whose children fail of drop out. Or better yet maybe we should throw them in jail. The reality is we cannot give up, but this problem goes back decades if not generations and resolving it is another of the many near IMPOSSIBLE issues that need solutions. Pointing fingers is childish and worthless. Good ideas are what is needed. Does anyone have any???

By: C Abraham

C Abraham — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:35:13 +0000

The article appears politicized. Secretaries of govt. coming to schools is not a bad thing. Getting to understand policy of the country is very good from a broader perspective. However, why should it be at the cost of other student learning or activities. Just because a student understands agriculture, commerce, defense, homeland security, housing and urban development, and even the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it does not mean it cannot do well in Math and Science. There simply is no commitment in the system towards the performance of the student. The system expects a particular result…. but, the effort to achieve it is not focused towards that end. Too much of effort is wasted in administrative and non-result oriented effort. If the focus is science and Math… then concentrate on that. Don’t fritter away energies on meaningless steps and processes. Then, results are sure to follow. Identify activities and areas for teachers to enhance student performance. Relieve them of unwanted discipline and behavioral processes that will waste teaching time. Discipline and behavioral issues should be handled or processed by administrative staff, supervisors and the Principal. Then teachers will be free to fully commit their time and energy towards student performance, learning and achievement.

By: StevenCee

StevenCee — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:35:47 +0000

Bob, while I’ve agreed with many of your recent editorials, this one just lands with a big THUD. Now really, do you honestly expect cabinet members to travel to a school, only to speak to them, much less “teach them” about math, science, writing, grammar, etc? That would be a huge waste of everyone’s time!

For the Energy Secretary to speak to kids about going Green, or Green Energy, is equivalent to Pres. Kennedy mandating we land on the Moon within 10years! We want those in the highest positions to set the bar & inspire these kids to WANT to learn their math, science, etc.!!!

The jobs of now & into the future, will be in NEW & INNOVATIVE areas, like Green Energy! If we don’t move forward, we will be falling further & further behind! If they see no use for their schooling, nobody is going to “teach them” to!