Today while I was reading news articles, I came across one that talked about this plan sponsored by the Obama's education department is calling, "The Race to the Top." Basically, from the information that I have read, this plan goes along with No Child Left Behind, but the way this works is that schools will be basing teacher pay off of how well their students do well on testing. While I believe there are some benefits to this plan, such as maybe not having teachers who maybe should not be teaching, I think that there are a lot more downfalls to this plan.

The teacher's pay will be based on testing. This most likely will be standardized testing which already does not work for many children and then the teacher will be compensated poorly, not because of their teaching, but because the system in place already is not working. There are many other ways to document children's learning that should not be by standardized testing.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2157-Charter-Schools-Examiner~y2009m10d25-Gates-Foundation-and-Obama-Administration-unequally-yoked

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/10/race_to_the_top_teachers_left.html

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/photos/story/885203.html

I just read an article that will help save 250,000 education jobs. I think that is pretty awesome because of how bad the economy is. I've kinda had first hand experience with job cuts as my father lost his job last September because of the economy. I think that anything that will help save jobs, especially in the education field are especially important.

After all, the children are the future and what we teach them now will affect what the future is like for us.

http://education.change.org/blog/view/stimulus_funds_create_and_save_250000_education_jobs

Texting While Driving

I was just reading an article on texting while driving. It seemed kind of sad to me because it said that in the past 5 years, about 100 teenagers have died while texting and driving just in New York City and Long Island. While that number may not be all that great, the number keeps on rising each year and that tells us that something needs to change.

Texting can be useful and a good tool for communication if there isn't much service, but while driving, really, it should be put away. It's so dangerous; not only for the driver, but the others on the road.

This is a case where technology is not all that useful.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20091004_ap_textingdrivingwreckskill95nyteensin5years.html