“I’m impatient with a school system that is leaving too many children behind,” Barack said during his return to Kennett High School in Conway earlier this evening.
Barack spoke to jam-packed high school gymnasiums today in Alton, Conway and Laconia. At every stop he made, he affirmed, “I’m not going to be a president who just talks about how teachers are great. I’m going to reward them for their greatness.”
Crowds of seniors, students, parents, and in some cases, infants, turned out to listen and ask Barack tough questions about his vision for America. As always, he gave clear, direct answers to every question.
In response to a Kennett High student’s question, Barack framed the importance of reforming education in America:
The globe has shrunk economically, environmentally, and in terms of accessibility of knowledge. Everything is interconnected, and the pace of change is accelerated. It is harder for us to insulate ourselves from the effects of events overseas… Kids here are competing with folks in Bangalore and Beijing, and they need to be ready.
Barack added, “If we invest in early childhood education, we can start closing that achievement gap” and prepare our kids for a 21st century information-based economy where the knowledge of our workforce is our greatest asset. He reminded the crowd that the nation gets back $10 for every dollar it invests in early childhood education.
The Obama plan for early childhood education drew praise from Laura of Wonalancet, a teacher at a local high school who brought six of her students to Conway to witness the democratic process in action. She confessed that while she wished all children could receive the early education they need from their parents, Barack’s plan will level the playing field for millions of children.
“He understands that we need to invest in kids early to make sure they reach their potential,” she said.
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