DaytonDailyNews.com

RIVERSIDE — Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama called for greater accountability, not only on the part of educators and the government, but also on the part of parents, saying everyone's help is needed to prepare students for the 21st century work world.

Obama spoke Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Stebbins High School, delivering a major policy speech on education where he said he supported school choice, including the doubling of funding for charter schools, but also shutting down charter schools that failed to properly educate students. And he said teachers who are given help to improve, but do not, must leave the classroom. He said as president he would issue annual reports on the state of the nation's schools.

He also said that schools and government can only do so much.

"But in the end, responsibility for our children's success doesn't start in Washington. It starts in our homes. It starts in our families," Obama said. "Because no education policy can replace a parent who's involved in their child's education from day one, who makes sure their children are in school on time, helps them with their homework after dinner, and attends those parent-teacher conferences."

The crowd cheered as he said, "No government program can turn off the TV, or put away the video games, or read to your children."

In the speech, before about 750 invited guests, Obama also denounced his Republican opponent as a stumbling block to real education reform.

Those invited by the campaign include of educators, politicians, campaign volunteers and undecided voters.

Obama said during Sen. John McCain's nearly three decades in Congress he has done nothing to improve education and in fact had opposed hiring more teachers, expanding Head Start, and making college more affordable.

"After three decades of indifference on education, do you really believe that John McCain is going to make a difference now?" Obama asked, to which the crowd shouted "no."

"John McCain doesn't get it. He doesn't understand that our success as a nation depends on our success in education," Obama said.

Obama and McCain were both in the area today, each sharpening their attacks on the other now that the two national conventions are behind them and their vice presidential candidates are in place.

After his speech today, Obama met with 15 employees of ABX of Wilmington, who face loss of their jobs if the company's largest customer, DHL, moves air freight business to UPS in Kentucky. That meeting was private. Obama then heads for a town hall meeting in Lebanon, Va., said Isaac Baker, campaign spokesman.

In his speech today in Riverside, Obama discussed his plan for a "21st century education."

"But just as with energy independence and health care, the urgency of upgrading public education for the 21st century has been talked to death in Washington. And that failure to act has put our nation in jeopardy," Obama said. "Well, the day of reckoning is here. Our children and our country can't afford four more years of neglect and indifference. "

Among the components of his plan:

— Support charter schools by doubling the funding for "responsible" ones, holding the schools accountable for achievement and closing the ones that fail.

— Improve access to after school programs, summer school and extended school days.

— Increase teacher pay while also holding teachers more accountable for achievement. Those who struggle will be helped, those who don't improve would be replaced.

"Without a workforce trained in math, science, and technology and the other skills of the 21st century, our companies will innovate less, our economy will grow less, and our nation will be less competitive. If we want to out compete the world tomorrow, we must out-educate the world today," Obama said.