Comments on: The Obama Effect Sounds Good, However… http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/01/30/the-obama-effect-sounds-good-however/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:59:33 -0600 hourly 1 By: momof4 http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/01/30/the-obama-effect-sounds-good-however/comment-page-1/#comment-5499 momof4 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:25:04 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1947#comment-5499 The path to higher achievement - for all kids, even those now doing well - is a better foundation, starting in kindgergarten. That means strong phonics, math skills (including facts) and a content-rich curriculum. To me, it also means disciplined, teacher-centered classrooms. High school is too late to make up for 9 weak or wasted years. Transmission of knowledge used to be a major part, if not THE major part, of a teacher's job and I think all kids (especially those at the lower end who get less at home) would benefit from a renewed commitment to that approach. It's impossible to build a good house without a strong foundation and I don't understand why anyone thinks it would work for education. The path to higher achievement – for all kids, even those now doing well – is a better foundation, starting in kindgergarten. That means strong phonics, math skills (including facts) and a content-rich curriculum. To me, it also means disciplined, teacher-centered classrooms. High school is too late to make up for 9 weak or wasted years. Transmission of knowledge used to be a major part, if not THE major part, of a teacher’s job and I think all kids (especially those at the lower end who get less at home) would benefit from a renewed commitment to that approach. It’s impossible to build a good house without a strong foundation and I don’t understand why anyone thinks it would work for education.

]]> By: Paul Hoss http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/01/30/the-obama-effect-sounds-good-however/comment-page-1/#comment-5494 Paul Hoss Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:18:57 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1947#comment-5494 President Obama has been in office exactly ten days. The party skunk appears a bit premature to be discharging such an offensive spray this early into the new president’s first term. American voters gave Bush 43 eighth years. I'm willing to give the new president at least a one year honeymoon before I decide to pass judgment on him. President Obama has been in office exactly ten days. The party skunk appears a bit premature to be discharging such an offensive spray this early into the new president’s first term.

American voters gave Bush 43 eighth years. I’m willing to give the new president at least a one year honeymoon before I decide to pass judgment on him.

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