Education

Both President Obama and Mitt Romney have different approaches to improving the country's education. Obama's "Race to the Top" plan consists of rewarding those states who perform better in regarding education, with more funding. In order for these states to perform better, Obama believes that they need to "design and implement rigorous standard and high quality assessments, attract and keep great teachers and leaders in classrooms, support data systems that inform decisions and improve instruction, use innovative and effective approaches to turn-around struggling schools and demonstrate and sustain education reform" (Obama). This plan is basically a race between each state, competing for the best education performance, in order to gain extra money. Romney's plan on the other hand consists of "expanding and funding more charter schools, creating a merit based scholarship, proposing parental preparation classes to help parents take active roles in their kids' education, providing special financial bonuses to math, science, AP and improved teachers, creating a mentor teaching program, increase funding for teacher training, and equip the state to intervene faster in failing schools" (Romney).

I can't really say whose plan is better because I think each plan consists of ideas that are a good approach to improve education. In Obama's plan, I think that keeping great teachers and leaders in classrooms and using innovative and effective approaches to turn-around struggling schools are great ideas. With "great teachers", students will be able to learn to their fullest potential and expand their knowledge and thinking skills. Also, taking approaches to "turn-around" struggling schools is a good idea because students in these schools would finally get a chance to endulge in the learning experience that those students with "great teachers" get to experience. In Romney's plan, I think the ideals of proposing parental preparation classes to help parents take active roles in their kids' education, creating a mentor teaching program, and increasing funding for teacher training are also good approaches to improving education. If parents take parental preparation classes, they will be able to help their children if they are struggling with their hw or with a class, therefore improving their children's skills and giving teachers less work. Through mentor teaching programs and increased funding for teaching training, students will be provided with the best teachers who are the most skilled at the subjects they teach, which will be beneficial for these students because they will have a better learning experience.

-Nia B.