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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > September > 09 > Entry
Obama promises to double funding for “responsible charter schools”
As president, Democrat Barack Obama says he would “double the funding for responsible charter schools.”
The pledge came in excerpts from a speech Obama is scheduled to give today, Sept. 9, at Stebbins High School in Riverside.
Obama also takes aim at his Republican opponent John McCain and McCain’s record on education in nearly three decades in Washington.
“…in those three decades, he has not done one thing to truly improve the quality of public education in our country. Not one real proposal or law or initiative. Nothing.”
McCain and Sarah Palin, his vice presidential running mate, were to campaign in the Dayton area today, in front of The Golden Lamb restaurant in Lebanon.
Here are the excerpts from Obama’s speech:
For decades, they’ve been stuck in the same tired debates over education that have crippled our progress and left schools and parents to fend for themselves.
It’s been Democrat versus Republican, vouchers versus the status quo, more money versus more reform. There’s partisanship and there’s bickering, but there’s no understanding that both sides have good ideas that we’ll need to implement if we hope to make the changes our children need.
And we’ve fallen further and further behind as a result.
If we’re going to make a real and lasting difference for our future, we have to be willing to move beyond the old arguments of left and right and take meaningful, practical steps to build an education system worthy of our children and our future.
In the past few weeks, my opponent has taken to talking about the need for change and reform in Washington, where he has been part of the scene for about three decades.
And in those three decades, he has not done one thing to truly improve the quality of public education in our country. Not one real proposal or law or initiative. Nothing.
Instead, he marched with the ideologues in his party in opposing efforts to hire more teachers, and expand Head Start, and make college more affordable. You don’t reform our schools by opposing efforts to fully fund No Child Left Behind.
And you certainly don’t reform our education system by calling to close the Department of Education. That would just make it harder for us to give out financial aid, harder for us to keep track of how our schools are doing, and lead to widening inequality in who gets a college degree.
That is not my idea of reform. That is not my idea of change. That is not a plan to help your kids compete with those kids in China and India.
After three decades of indifference on education, do you really believe that John McCain is going to make a difference now?
Giving our parents real choices about where to send their kids to school also means showing the same kind of leadership at the national level that I did in Illinois when I passed a law to double the number of charter schools in Chicago.
That is why as President, I’ll double the funding for responsible charter schools. Now, I know you’ve had a tough time with for-profit charter schools here in Ohio. That is why I’ll work with Governor Strickland to hold for-profit charter schools accountable, and I’ll work with all our nation’s governors to hold all our charter schools accountable.
Charter schools that are successful will get the support they need to grow. And charters that aren’t will get shut down. And we’ll help ensure that more of our kids have access to quality afterschool and summer school and extended school days for students who need it - because if they can do that in China, we can do that right here in the United States of America.
And when our teachers succeed in making a real difference in our children’s lives, we should reward them for it by finding new ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them.
We can do this. From Prince George County in Maryland to Denver, Colorado, we’re seeing teachers and school boards coming together to design performance pay plans.
So yes, we must give teachers every tool they need to be successful. But we also need to give every child the assurance that they’ll have the teacher they need to be successful. That means setting a firm standard - teachers who are doing a poor job will get extra support, but if they still don’t improve, they’ll be replaced.
Because as good teachers are the first to tell you, if we’re going to attract the best teachers to the profession, we can’t settle for schools filled with poor teachers.
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Comments
By alphagirl
September 10, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
It is ironic that the senator would give a speech supporting additional funding of charter schools while our public schools locally and nationally are stuggling with funding in this difficult economy.By Alice
September 10, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
Is it better to get a $1000 tax check or have will an income be the better alternative? (TRS) That’s what we’ve been asking for the last eight years! Rich people trigger economic growth through investing? You don’t mention the gap that has widened between the upper and lower classes and virtually reduced the middle class to endangered. As the percentage of lower class has increased in the US, so has the percentage of wealthy. If the economy sucks, does that mean that the wealthy haven’t invested enough in our country for the past eight years?By TRS
September 9, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Tax policy needs to be looked at strategically as well as individually. The claim is that on paper Senator Obama cuts individaul income tax. This seems to be true. In truth part of the tax cuts are taking are sending a government check to those who have paid no taxes. That is income redistribution. Senator Obama favors the “death” tax. He wants to lift the cap of SSN. Remember, it won’t only be the individual paying an additional 6.1% but the company they work matches that amount as well. Who pays for that as well as all corporate taxes? Whoever is buying the goods/services from that company. He also wants to increase the capital gains tax. Now it may sound wonderful to those who view taxing the rich as a good thing; but, what results? Tax policy doesn’t end recessions, economic growth does. What triggers economic growth? Investment. Who invests? Well, whether you like it or not it is those with money. If they are being taxed at at what some economists indicated will be a 55%+ gross rate, then many will invest elsewhere, go elsewhere or not invest at all because of the heavy taxation on their return. Some may say the government can do the investing? You mean the government with the good ol’ boys network? The one with lobbyists? It would be probably the worst distributor of moneys. The market is the most efficient to do such a thing. So, if you are looking at tax policy, look at the whole deal. Is it better to get a $1000 tax check or have will an income be the better alternative?By Alice
September 9, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
PHS: I find it ironic that Repubs like you criticize all the wasteful spending in Washington, blame liberals for it, wonder how new programs can be paid for and then push the socialist higher taxes lie. The truth is Obama will bring the real change to cut the wasteful spending to pay for programs we need. Some democratic solutions may not be perfect but at least Obama is offering new ideas - not the same crap we’ve seen that doesn’t work and hasn’t in the last 8 years. Many organizations have debunked the higher taxes under Obama as a lie. For an accurate, non-partisan breakdown of the candidates’ tax policies, go to taxpolicycenter.org. If you’re guy really is the best candidate for the presidency, you wouldn’t need get an edge by avoiding the issues and pushing lies and smears. “This election is not about issues,” said Rick Davis, campaign manager for McCain. “This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.” Soc, O’Reilly came off as a big baby crying on the playground, “I was right and you were wrong! Na Na Na Na Na!”By Real answers please
September 9, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
This irritates me. The man gives a speech about his education plan, who he is going to give my tax money to and how we as parents are going to be responsible, yet the speech is by invitation only. Hello!!! Guess he really doesn’t want us to hear if he answered any questions that weren’t prepared by his writers or for press releases. I’m beginning to think this man has alot to hide from the Ohio voters and everything is being very well scripted.By McPlain is so out of touch
September 9, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Sorry folks but the Cold War is now over, and McSame is no longer on the shoulders of his father at a Roosevelt Rally. The poor soul is so out of touch, but it is not his fault his faculties have started to fail, just as his stale old policies will if he is elected. Nothing against Seniors but the poor man is more suited to be the President of AARP than the U.S. Or better yet what about the Gerry Atrics programs, there has to be some openings somewhere. And as for Palin I’m sure some PTA mom has stepped down from her Presidential position there. McCain and Palin in the White House, what a JOKE!By socrates
September 9, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
Looks like Obama is getting worried Sen. McCain has a 7 pt lead now in Ohio. People are beginning to see the empty shell in candidate Obama, the two book, one speech giver who was produced by Hollywood. I like Denzel Washington in the role frankly better than Obama. I understand that was Dreamworks first choice, but he had other commitments. Now Obama making a speech to fire up the union of teachers in Ohio for another item he can’t pay for. Bill O’Reilley revealed the man last week, a phony, who is dummy downing students (college students) and the poor. I’m here to help you he says. But has no ideas, no vision, no record, to darw from. Ohio “gets it” Obama.By Ron
September 9, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Some times people don’t figure out that they have over stayed their well come.America is no place for old men who can not embrace real change in Washington.By phs
September 9, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it ironic that someone with NO record at all finds it easy to attack someone with a 30 yr record? What have you done for education, Sen. Obama? Nothing. What have you done on any topic? Nothing. Most community organizers can’t. Double funding to charter schools. How are you going to pay for it? Raise taxes. Raise taxes. Raise taxes. That is always the Dems answer. “Can’t settle for schools filled with poor teachers.” Poor? Check the average salary at Centerville, Beavercreek and others. $50K for 9 months work? The teachers union wants everybody to think they’re poor so the levies keep getting passed. Performance based (merit) pay for teachers will never fly with the unions.