How To Fix Our Schools: A Manifesto

Recent media coverage of the documentary Waiting for Superman and the generous donation of $100 million donation to Newark schools have kept the debate about public education on the back burner. However, Joel Klein, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, followed by superintendents, educators, elected officials, labor unions and parents have outlined the public problems within the education system. In their 'manifesto' the main ideas highlighted are ensuring that the best teachers remain hired, regardless of seniority, removing incompetent teachers, giving teachers performance-based financial incentives, improved technology to monitor student’s learning habits, embrace online learning lessons, close underperforming schools, and embracing charter schools. Those involved that fixing the problems within the school system is the long-term fix to our economic problems. Education the youth for a prosperous future is what is most important.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/07/AR2010100705078.html

What are we going to do about immigration reform?

Immigration reform has been on the public agenda for a minimum of seven years now. It even made it to spot number six on the classroom list of biggest public problems. In this article, Scott Biddle says, "You can't hope to implement sound strategies unless you understand what brings people to the United States and what they thing about the nation once the get here". One thing thats clear from the research is immigrants are happy in the U.S. and would do it all over again. They even hope for their kids to grow up here. There are currently 34.2 million foreign born immigrants and over 12 million illegal immigrants in addition. The legislature need to make a decision about this situation and get the reform off of the public agenda. But are immigrants really hurting the U.S., or are they helping by working for minimum wage and putting their money back into our economy?

www.publicagenda.org/pages/immigration

Michelle Watkins