Pres. Obama surprises kids featured in 'Waiting for Superman' with a tour of the Oval Office - pics

[Kadie]

President Barack Obama, left, surprises the children who were featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" at the door into the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. Reacting to seeing Obama are Francisco Regalado, from Bronx, NY. , and Daisy Esparza from East Los Angeles.


President Barack Obama, right, greets Daisy Esparza, left, one of the children who was featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman", in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.


US President Barack Obama (R) surprises Anthony Black, one of the children featured in the documentry film 'Waiting for Superman' with a tour of the Oval Office on October 11, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC. Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop-out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.


President Barack Obama, right, walks with Anthony Black, left, from Washington, DC. , as he meets with the five children who were featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.


US President Barack Obama (L) surprises the children featured in the documentry 'Waiting for Superman' with a tour of the Oval Office on October 11, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC. (L-R) Cast member Anthony Black, from Washington DC, Francisco Regalado, from Bronx New York and Bianca Hill, from Harlem New York. The children are featured in filmmaker Davis Guggenheim's work as he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop-out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.


U.S. President Barack Obama meets students from the film "Waiting for Superman" in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington October 11, 2010. The students are Anthony Black (C) from Washington DC and Francisco Regalado from the Bronx, New York.



U.S. President Barack Obama meets students from the film "Waiting for Superman" in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington October 11, 2010. The students are (from 2nd L to R) Anthony Black, Francisco Regalado, Bianca Hill, Daisy Esparza and Emily Jones.


President Barack Obama greets the five children who were featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. Sitting on the coach are from left to right, Francisco Regalado, from Bronx, NY. , Bianca Hill, Harlem, NY, Daisy Esparza, East Los Angeles, Emily Jones, Silicon Valley Calif. , and Anthony Black from Washington, DC.


Children who were featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman", from left to right: Anthony Black from Washington, D.C. , left, Emily Jones from Silicon Valley, Calif. , third left, and Daisy Esparza from East Los Angeles, far right, watch from the South Portico balcony as President Barack Obama takes off in Marine One helicopter at the White House in Washington as he travels to Miami, Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.


WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 11: Some of the children featured in the documentary film 'Waiting for Superman,' (L-R) Anthony Black of Washington, DC; Emily Jones of Silicon Valley, CA; and Daisy Esparza of Los Angeles, CA, watch President Barack Obama depart from the South Portico balcony at the White House October 11, 2010 in Washington, DC. The children toured the White House and met with Obama.

[MineralMan]

1. Lucky kids, and they seem to know it.

Meeting a President is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most people. In fact, most people don't ever meet a President. I've met two, Nixon, whom I detested, but had no choice, since I was on duty with the USAF, and Jimmy Carter, who walked down the aisle of a plane we were on and shook every hand on the plane. I liked Carter.

However, the detractors of President Obama and this film will be along shortly to make their feelings known, I'm afraid.

[felinetta]

48. I'm sure righties will think they got a private indoctrination.

[Scurrilous]

2. K & R

:thumbsup:

[CBR]

3. Great experience for those kids! K&R nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. K&R..

:kick:

[vi5]

5. Deleted

Ah...forget it. Not worth it. Good for those kids.

[Smarmie Doofus]

16. And great for the President also.

Win/win. The kids get to see a real POTUS and he gets to see actual public school kids.

Or *charter school* kids, anyway.

I'll see the film tomorrow. ( Tuesday's freebie nite, if you have a Cablevision card. Don't panic, Superman boycotters.)

[vi5]

28. Yeah, that's kind of my point.....

.not public school kids. Charter school kids. Unburdened and untainted by those pesky teachers unions or anything other than teaching to the test and no tenure.

[Smarmie Doofus]

32. Don't be a sour puss. Glory in the moment.

President Obama ... at long last.... face to face with real , actual, in the flesh, public school kids.

He's heard so much about them!

He heard about them in Hawaii. He heard about them in Chicago. He's heard about them ( mostly, I'll wager from Ms. Rhee) in DC.

But this.... at long last! To actually lay one's eyes on them. Words fail me.

So:look for my post re. Superman tomorrow nite or Wednesday.

"The minutes will fly like hours."

[chimpymustgo]

59. Helluva post.

[Number23]

62. Were the schools he attended in Indonesia private?

[Smarmie Doofus]

98. Yes and no.

Here's the wiki account:

>>>from ages six to ten, Obama attended local schools in Jakarta, including Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School.<19><20>>>>.

Presumably the second is a catholic private school but I'm not going to dig out my paperback copy of his bio again to discern which he attended for what years and what " public school" really means in Jakarta.

Point: he never attended an American ps. His kids have never attended an American ps. President Obama has zero first hand knowledge of the American ps sysytem(s). This is uncontestable.

Doesn't mean he's evil, doesn't mean he's stupid .... just means he doesn't know what he's talking about on this issue. Which, BTW he DOESN'T.

Hence he buys into that collection of silly, facile, trivial ideas ... that the $$$ media here insists on calling "school reform."

[Number23]

108. What "issue" are you referring to?

This OP was about a group of beautiful kids who starred in a movie visiting the President. Somehow, this turned into a "Obama Education Policy" thread. And to be honest, I personally feel that most of the folks discussing this issue are the ones that "don't know what they're talking about."

And really nice backtrack from "he's never been around public school kids" to "he's never been around AMERICAN public school kids" as if that means any damn thing at all. By that type of "reasoning," only people who went to school in the South are fit to judge Southern schools. Sounds real crazy and stupid, doesn't it?? Sounds like the world's weakest argument, doesn't it??

[Smarmie Doofus]

110. Public school reform.

The movie that the photo op was set up to promote is about the "public school reform *issue.*"

That's the "issue".

Public school "reform".


"It turned into into a ....policy thread." because the film is *about* education POLICY that Obama promotes and IMPLEMENTS. Why, on earth, would you be confused or surprised about THAT? That's the *policy*.


>>>>And really nice backtrack from "he's never been around public school kids" to "he's never been around AMERICAN public school kids" as if that means any damn thing at all. By that type of "reasoning," only people who went to school in the South are fit to judge Southern schools. Sounds real crazy and stupid, doesn't it?? Sounds like the world's weakest argument, doesn't it??>>>>

So if he went to ps in Indonesia... in INDONESIA ....when he was 6 years old for a year or two... ( and then completely AVOIDED public school in the United States from his return at age 10 to graduation from HS, that experience ( attendance at an Indonesian PS hen he was 6 yrs old) confers on him sufficient relevant life experience that enables him to capably decide federal public school policy in the United States of America forty years later.

Think about what you're saying.



This is what your telling me. He doesn't need professional American PS experts; he doesn't need guidance from American PS teachers; or even from their representatives . His experience as a 6 year old INDONESIAN pubic school kid is sufficient for the task of analyzing and remediating what's wrong with the incredibly complex public school systems in the United States.

re. "backtracking" : quote me exactly and I'll address that charge.

>>>By that type of "reasoning," only people who went to school in the South are fit to judge Southern schools. Sounds real crazy and stupid, doesn't it?? Sounds like the world's weakest argument, doesn't it??>>>>

If they LIVED in the south and specifically AVOIDED sending their kids ( passing up not ONE, not TWO but THREE opportunities in succession to ) to send their kids to school there, I'd say that they were at a distinct disadvantage to prescribe effective solutions to problems that are specific to that system.

EVEN IF they attended PS in INDONESIA briefly when they were six.


>>>By that type of "reasoning," only people who went to school in the South are fit to judge Southern schools. Sounds real crazy and stupid, doesn't it?? Sounds like the world's weakest argument, doesn't it??>>>>

Poor analogy. An adult American who went to school in say, Oregon or Maine is manifestly better equipped to understand the workings and intricacies of an American ps in a different region of the USA... than would someone whose sole PS experience is as a 6 year old in Jakarta, Indonesia in the 1960s.

Please tell me you do see that.

[Number23]

111. Darling, this thread is about 4 kids who went to visit the President

That's it. The kids may have been in a movie about xyz, but THIS THREAD is about those kids visiting the President. And considering that there have already been 6000 threads on the movie, on Arne Duncan, on teacher's unions, on (public) charter schools vs. regular public schools etc, THIS THREAD was about those kids visiting the President.

And if you recall, YOU were the one who made the ridiculous argument that because Obama had never been around public schools kids which you soon qualified to mean AMERICAN public school kids :eyes: he had no idea what he was talking about regarding educational policy. YOU made that argument. Now that I've pointed out the flaws in your "logic," you come back with:

"So if he went to ps in Indonesia... in INDONESIA ....when he was 6 years old for a year or two... ( and then completely AVOIDED public school in the United States from his return at age 10 to graduation from HS, that experience ( attendance at an Indonesian PS hen he was 6 yrs old) confers on him sufficient relevant life experience that enables him to capably decide federal public school policy in the United States of America forty years later."

YOU made the asinine, pointless argument that somehow where someone goes to school provides them with the experience to decide public school policy. And luckily for us all, the person who is directly responsible for deciding public school policy DOES have significant public school experience as his children attend one. So using your "logic," I guess that means you don't have any problems with Mr. Duncan's policies, right??

[Smarmie Doofus]

113. Calm down and read this tomorrow. You'll sleep better.

>>Darling, this thread is about 4 kids who went to visit the President

That's it. The kids may have been in a movie about xyz, but THIS THREAD is about those kids visiting the President. >>>




Well, no. And you don't write like someone who is gullible enough to believe what you just wrote.

The OP mentions the name of the film no fewer than 11 ( thats *eleven* ) separate times. The thread is about the movie. It's not about "4 kids who went visit the President." Although the kids' presence provides the necessary piggy back ride for the propaganda.

And here's the propaganda.... also straight from OP:

"..... Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop-out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems."

".......Guggenheim's work as he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop-out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems."

About the kids.

Really.







>>>And considering that there have already been 6000 threads on the movie, on Arne Duncan, on teacher's unions, on (public) charter schools vs. regular public schools etc, THIS THREAD was about those kids visiting the President.>>>

Is there some kind of cause and effect there? Because there have already been a lot of threads about issues that the movie "deals" with.... the thread therefore isn't about the movie. You'll have to explain.



>>>>And if you recall, YOU were the one who made the ridiculous argument that because Obama had never been around public schools kids >>>>


Not exactly what I said; which is why I asked you to quote me directly. Which you did NOT, BTW.



>>>which you soon qualified to mean AMERICAN public school kids he had no idea what he was talking about regarding educational policy. YOU made that argument. Now that I've pointed out the flaws in your "logic," >>>


I missed that part. What are the flaws, again?



>>>>you come back with:
"So if he went to ps in Indonesia... in INDONESIA ....when he was 6 years old for a year or two... ( and then completely AVOIDED public school in the United States from his return at age 10 to graduation from HS, that experience ( attendance at an Indonesian PS hen he was 6 yrs old) confers on him sufficient relevant life experience that enables him to capably decide federal public school policy in the United States of America forty years later."
YOU made the asinine, pointless argument that somehow where someone goes to school provides them with the experience to decide public school policy.>>>>>>


You're making me connect your dots. I wish you'd do it yourself. You're saying that that he DID attend an Indonesian "pubic school"... briefly ( we know it was fewer than 4 yrs and probably was in fact much shorter) starting when he was 6 y.o and this is comparable public school exposure to , say, a contemporary who went thru K-12 in the public school system of say, Salinas, Kansas. Yes? And on TOP of this you're saying that they are equally irrelevant. Yes?

Well you have a sort of consistency to your argument , but that's about the best that can be said about it. The K-12 in Kansas kid might not necessarily be qualified to drive national education policy for that reason alone ... i.e. he's familiar, at least as a student with some aspects of the American ps system. But all things being equal... most reasonable people over the age of 12 would conclude that it would be a decided advantage.

And it might be possible to cut Obama some slack on the private school background.... had he some relevant professional experience ( he doesn't) or experience as a PS *parent* ( he doesn't; he seems to be doing the "serial PS avoidance" thing as a parent that his folks did with him.)

But none of this matters to you. Interesting. Is it unimportant because you think that Obama is just so fabulously gifted that he can overcome his complete and utter lack of familiarity with public school issues or is it because you just don't believe the issues are that complicated? ( I'd really like to know. I won't attack you.... I want to know for my own edification.


>>> And luckily for us all, the person who is directly responsible for deciding public school policy DOES have significant public school experience as his children attend one. So using your "logic," I guess that means you don't have any problems with Mr. Duncan's policies, right??>>>>

Now... THAT'S ... a FASCINATING point that you've chosen to end on. Where did Mr. Duncan go to school, btw? Has he any professional experience? ( As a teacher, I mean.) Would that be of any relevance to you? Or is that also an "asinine" question? I know his kids are currently PSed in Arlington, VA, if I'm not mistaken. ( I guess there were no open spots in the DC school system?) But where did the little Duncans attend class when they lived in Chicago? I'm assuming it was public... since it would be almost as embarrassing for Duncan to private school his kids during his Chi. tenure as it would be now. But I'd genuinely like to know.

[mopinko]

104. how sad that you feel you have to

demonize a bunch of kids. fps


eta that that is my personal opinion, not that of the little grey guy on my shoulder.

[Smarmie Doofus]

106. What "little grey guy on your shoulder."?

I hope you don't mean the mod icon.


Cause that's NOT why we have mods , dear. You don't use that status to bolster an ... in this case... dishonest... ( not to mention *fallacious* argumentI).

If you're confused about what your responsibilities are... and it appears that you are confused.... are you should ask for advice from Skinner or one of the other admins.

[Recursion]

105. There's no such thing as a "private charter school"

All charter schools are by definition public.

[CraftyGal]

6. Awesome! n/t

[MineralMan]

7. It's very refreshing to see actual students in a thread about

education. Often, students aren't even mentioned much in education threads. It is the students who matter when it comes to education. They are the primary interest, or should be. Everything else is secondary or less. Educating America's children is everything. Whatever works to accomplish that is a good thing.

[JuniperLea]

9. Wow... now that you mention it...

Spot on! On all counts.

[CBR]

11. +1000!! nt

[EFerrari]

12. Do you have a link to one of those threads were students aren't even mentioned?

Thanks.

[JTFrog]

18. There's one floating in this forum right now.

I'm sure you can find it if you try. Don't expect anyone to do a call out for you.

[EFerrari]

24. As a matter of fact, there isn't. And identifying the factual content of a thread

is not a call out. But you know that.

[JTFrog]

29. It would be nothing but a call-out.

But then you know that.

Do not talk negatively about an individual in a thread where they are not participating. Linking to someone's post as an example of a negative is also not allowed. It's a fucking call-out.

No one is going to fall for this crap.

[MineralMan]

20. While I could provide many links of that nature, I will not do so.

This thread stands by itself. I do not bring other threads into any thread that is not my own. All you need do is start reading threads on the subject and you will see what I'm talking about. If you cannot see it, then perhaps a remedial reading course would be in order.

[EFerrari]

22. So, that is a "no". n/t

[Name removed]

23. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sabrina 1]

50. Yep, I think you got your answer and it was 'no'. No threads where

students were not mentioned. I just did a quick search and found students mentioned in each of the threads that I looked at, but I won't link to them, as we have just been told that we must not do that. Although it's news to me as I see links to other threads on DU all the time. However, I will refrain in this thread from linking to the research I just did.

[Common Sense Party]

26. Here's one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9295407

You are even on the thread. At 25 posts, the word "student" isn't used, as far as I can see. It happens quite often, where the preponderance of the thread deals with teachers or teacher's unions, and very little discussion of children takes place.

[MineralMan]

31. The word "children" is used by one poster in a couple of

posts, I believe.

[JTFrog]

33. Let's hope that's not construed as a call out. n/t

[Common Sense Party]

35. Frankly, I don't care if it is. Someone asked for information, and I

provided it.

[Hannah Bell]

40. there are 5 posts in that thread that mention the "kids" or "children" who attend schools, i.e.

"students".

fail.

and since the thread topic is about a billionaire spending billions to influence & shape us education policy, not sure why "students" should be discussed in every post.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madfloridian]

47. Unfair using this thread to slam my post.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/6807

But then fair is only in the eyes of the beholder, isn't it?

[Common Sense Party]

49. Again, it ain't all about you.

I addressed the THREAD, not your POST.

But then, unfair is often in the eye of the perceived slammee.

[Radical Activist]

100. Perhaps you should be complaining

to your friend who repeatedly requested (baited?) that a link be provided.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9296197&mesg_id=9296336

Nice tag team.

[Number23]

53. Do your thing, honey

Well done. :yourock:

It's no wonder so many avoid the education threads here. I was brought up that there is nothing more important than education, have been surrounded by educators my entire life (grandmother, two aunts), I have two children and I STILL avoid the education threads here.

[CBR]

64. I am married to a teacher. Just isn't worth it. No other opinions allowed. nt

[MineralMan]

34. Replying to my own post, I'll elaborate a little.

Last week, I deliberately went to the Education forum here on DU and opened all of the threads on the first page of the list. After opening the page, I did a Ctrl-F search for the word "student." In many of the threads, that word was not found. In others, it occurred once or twice in the entire thread. In a very few, the word was found multiple times. I won't mention any particular threads, but it's a search that can be duplicated by anyone.

To be fair, labor issues are of great concern in that forum, and I wouldn't expect to find the word "student" in threads discussing labor issues.

[Dappleganger]

57. MM you are nitpicking.

Or perhaps just looking for a fight over the use/non-use of a word.

[MineralMan]

65. Well, thanks for your reply.

I disagree, though. I'm not nitpicking.

[Common Sense Party]

66. Not at all. Many of the education threads have precious little to do

with the children we are supposed to be educating. We talk of Education Secretaries, Presidents, teachers, teachers' unions, charter schools, billionaires, curriculum, administrators, politicians, laws, parents, tests, etc., etc., etc.

But the children get short shrift in our discussions.

If someone wants to get their undies in a bunch and say that to point this obvious fact out is somehow an attack on teachers, that's their choice.

But it often happens. We discuss "education" in the abstract. We don't discuss actual children that much.

It's like talking about environmental issues without mentioning the critters or water.

[MineralMan]

68. Yes. I've noticed that while reading threads discussing

education, too. I find it sad.

[Spazito]

75. +1 n/t

[woo me with science]

38. +1000 nt

[Diane R]

39. You're right. This isn't about someone's job security or benefits....the kids are all that matters.

[Number23]

61. It's disgusting to see people call this "propaganda" and a "photo op"

These kids are inspired. They will never forget this day. And their impact on other children in their communities could be earth shattering.

I've read many of the education "discussions" here and I've not seen anything even REMOTELY convincing why I should consider the President's education policy as a detriment to children. If anything, the DU education threads seem to be nothing but a self-licking ice cream cone for people angry and holding grudges (legitimate or not) against this president and his educational advisers.

The people working so hard to trash this thread are sickening. The look on that first boy's face should make everyone put aside their idiocy at least in this ONE damn thread.

[girl gone mad]

71. If only..

all it took to have an "earth-shattering" impact on communities was sending the kids to spend a couple of hours at the White House.

[Number23]

73. I'm all for anything that would have a positive impact on the lives of children

Particularly black and brown ones. And if a few hours, hell a few minutes, with the first black President has a positive impact on these children, then why the hell would anyone besides the sick and deranged have a problem with it?

The impact of this exposure could very well be earth shattering for these children. And if it pisses the already mentioned sick and deranged off in the process, that's just an extra bonus.

[girl gone mad]

80. "Particularly black and brown ones"

Stay classy.

[Number23]

83. Babydoll, do yourself a favor and find someone else to bother.

Having once been a black child myself, I am particularly interested in the educational opportunities of other black children.

If you have a problem with that, then it's a good thing for both of us that I give less than a damn.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

109. What was unclassy about the statement?

Clearly, a black or brown child would be affected more positively by seeing Obama in the White House than a white child would.

[JuniperLea]

8. I love the expressions on their faces!

It appears they get that this is a very big deal, and they are so fortunate!

Now, go back to school and tell all your pals about our President!

:patriot:

[gateley]

10. Haha! Francisco looks right at home! Maybe someday...

I always love the looks on kids' faces when they see Obama -- 'wonder' is what I think describes it best.

This was so cool! I bet O loved it!

[EFerrari]

13. Kadie, do you have a link for this material that I can go read?

[Kadie]

17. There doesn't seem to be much out there yet...

found this basic summary at many sources...

"Superman" Visits the White House
Subjects, director Meet With Obama Today
By JOHN WIST
Updated 10:05 AM EDT, Mon, Oct 11, 2010

It’s a controversial look at the state of education in the nation, and now it’s garnering the attention of the president. The five students featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" -- as well as the film’s director, Davis Guggenheim -- will visit the White House today.

Progressives and teachers' unions have criticized the film for portraying the unions as contributing to the failures of American public school systems. But many in President Obama’s administration have praised the film, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

The students will meet the president at 1:30 p.m. and then get to see Marine One depart the South Lawn as President Obama heads to Florida this afternoon.

more...
http://www.nbcwashington.com/around-town/events/Superman-visits-the-White-House-104697359.html

and this...

Obama, the 'Superman' movie flack?
President Obama is welcoming to the White House the five charming students who starred in the education film “Waiting for Superman.”

Thank you, Mr. President, for helping Davis Guggenheim promote “Superman,” which presents an often misleading and sometimes dishonest look at the public education system. The $2 million grant that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave to market the movie worldwide apparently wasn’t enough to whip up publicity.

The five students in the film are shown trying to escape their troubled traditional public schools by participating in lotteries for admittance to public charter schools. It is, for sure, emotional.

Through no fault of the kids, Guggenheim edited the film to make it seem as if charter schools are a systemic answer to the ills afflicting many traditional public schools, even though they can’t be, by their very design. (The film also fails to mention that the biggest research study on charter schools shows that test scores in only 17 percent of them are better than their local traditional schools.)

more...
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/charter-schools/obama-the-superman-movie-flack.html?wprss=answer-sheet

I don't see anything written that features the children or their reaction to the meeting... might be too early.

pics found at daylife.com


;)

[EFerrari]

86. Thank you. n/t

[Myrina]

14. ".... and kids, thanks to Arne's Race to Standarize all of your brains ...

... this is the closest you'll ever get to this office again. Now go study for those standardized exams ... because it's not how you think, it's how you score on the test that matters."

[EFerrari]

15. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. +2

[jaxx]

30. That was mean.

[Diane R]

42. I would prefer that he 'standardize' their brains, actually.

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. +1,000,000

[salin]

112. Sadly the problem of perpetual low preforming schools

existing long before Duncan (or Paige) were named Secretary of Education.

I spent years working with the Detroit public schools where even back in the early 90s the odds of graduating from high school for entering freshman was 1 in 3. Long before NCLB let alone RTTP.

I have asked this question several times and never received an affirmative answer. Would you willingly send your child to a high school in which only 1 in 3 freshman will graduate?

I agree that the severe problems in a few areas have been generalized to "all scools" which is absurd. This goes back to the "Nation At Risk" report (early Reagan years). I am both cynical and cautious per "reforms". That said, I also find the blindness (lack of concern) per what it means to families whose only option is to send their children to schools that for nearly (or more) than two decades only a third of students are likely to graduate, very troubling.

Still looking for the DU parent that does or is willing to send ones' child to a school with such a low graduation rate. B/c this is the reality of some parents.

[Swamp Rat]

19. Great photos!

:kick:

[JTFrog]

21. K&R!

[jaxx]

27. WoW that's a day those kids will never forget.

Looks like he had as much fun with it as they did.

[treestar]

36. wow, that's neat

Lucky kids!

[woo me with science]

37. K&R

Beautiful.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Spazito]

43. Beautiful thread! I love the look on the faces of the children...

that says it all, imo.

I have to say I am saddened that some can't just enjoy the photos of children who are clearly joyous and, instead, feel the need to be negative about their experience. It's unfortunate, to say the least.

[Born_A_Truman]

46. Yes, always ...

Someone ripped the joy genes from their bodies. Sad.

[Number23]

51. Wonderful. Oh, this is just wonderful. I'm damn near teary eyed here

I can think of no greater role model for these children to spend some time with. Thank you so much for posting this. Happy to rec. I hope that this film makes its way to the international circuit. I'd love to see it and judge for myself.

And btw, there is absolutely nothing more adorable than seeing a little boy wearing a tie. That first pic is priceless.

[Pathwalker]

52. Lovely! Looks like the thrill of their childhoods!

I bet they remember this day for the rest of their lives.
Thank you for posting these lovely photos.

[Zax2me]

54. Beautiful...! nt

[sufrommich]

55. Love these pictures! Those kids look thrilled and happy to

see the President.

[MineralMan]

70. You see those same expressions every time President Obama

addresses or meets children. They just naturally love the man. I trust kids' instincts in such things.

[JuniperLea]

79. Kids and dogs have the best instincts!

I will always trust them over my own.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

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[malaise]

60. Too Freaking Cool

Rec

[grahamhgreen]

63. That movie is one of the worst anti-union screeds I have ever seen! LET'S DO WHAT THEY DO IN

Finland - it has the best system in the world!

"According to Gamerman, the differences between Finland and American education are enormous. High-school students rarely get more than a half-hour of homework a night in Finland. Furthermore, children don’t start school until they reach seven. There are no classes for the gifted students and no recognition organizations for those who achieve. There is also little in the way of standardized testing.

In other words, Finland educates its children with a model that is virtually the anti-thesis of what we do in America. Yet out of the 57 countries tested, Finland’s 15-year-old students earned some of the highest scores in the world.

Different Schools and Different Kids

However, though school is different, it should be noted that Finnish youth appear to be very similar to their American counterparts in their teenage behaviors. According to Gamerman, they also “waste hours online, love sarcasm and listen to rap and heavy metal.” The difference is that these students are way ahead of their American counterparts in math, science and reading.

ekurvineAt the same time, it must be noted that Finland as a country is nothing like America. It has its own language yet teachers encounter very few students who do not speak the language. In contrast, in America, one of every twelve American students is learning English.

The people are far more homogeneous in terms of both income and education. Perhaps more importantly, there are no poor and no wealthy schools, each school educates children at the same per pupil rate. Perhaps that is one reason why the gap between Finland’s highest performing and lowest performing schools was amongst the lowest of all 57 countries tested.

After examining the Finnish school system, there are at least three items that could be easily applied to American schools despite the cultural and economic differences. Each of these three also address the differing socioeconomic status in our country, providing a helping hand for those with a desire to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.

Quality Pre-School for All

Kati Tuurala, Microsoft’s education manager in Finland, believes that a great deal of Finland’s educational success can be attributed to major reforms implemented in the 1970s. Those reforms included an emphasis on primary education for every single child in the country.

“That’s the reason for our present-day success,” Tuurala states.

In all three Scandinavian countries students begin formal schooling only at age seven, two years after most American children begin school. However, prior to entering school, all children have participated in a high-quality government funded preschool program. As opposed to a focus on getting a jump academically, these early-childhood programs focus on self-reflection and social behavior. It is interesting to note that one of the most notable attributes of Finnish children is their level of personal responsibility. The early focus on self-reflection is seen as a key component for developing that level of responsibility towards learning.

.........

Delineated High School
While there is little grading and in essence no tracking in Finland, ninth grade does become a divider for Finnish students. Students are separated for the last three years of high school based on grades. Under the current structure, 53% will go to academic high school and the rest enter vocational school.

Using that format, Finland has an overall high-school dropout rate of about 4%. Even at the vocational schools the rate of 10% pummels America’s 25% high school drop out rate."

............

Free Higher Education
All that said, perhaps the most positive aspect may have nothing to do with what takes place at the traditional school age level at all. Instead, it may well have everything to do with Finland’s approach to higher education.

In Finland, there are 20 universities which are owned and largely funded by the Finnish government. University studies are available to all students though students are selected based on the results of entrance exams. Most importantly, theses schools are free to students."

http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/10/several-lessons-to-be-learned-from-the-finnish-school-system/


Screw having a lottery for the good schools and letting everyone else suffer!

[girl gone mad]

72. Good post.

But the test-peddler charter proponents will never accept a solution unless it will allow them to line their pockets.

[JuniperLea]

76. Interesting you should mention...

I was discussing charter schools with a Norwegian recently, and she told me of their charter schools, and new ones popping up all over Scandinavia... here's a link she sent be regarding one in Sweden...

http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/08/20/progressive-swedish-charter-schools-coming-soon-to-a-city-near-you-

[Johonny]

85. +1

[Common Sense Party]

87. You've seen the 'Superman' movie?

[grahamhgreen]

101. Yes,

A friend of mine dragged me to it.

It's really just a pro-privatization, anti-union PR (as in propaganda) piece that states that:

1) Teachers unions are the problem

2) Private schools is the only solution

[Hannah Bell]

96. +100. rtt = extension of nclb

[sulphurdunn]

67. I'm not that impressed.

It might have been a better photo-op if Obama's handlers had him and the kids land on a charter school playground in a jet and strut across the field in flight suits. Then the President could have given a mission accomplished speech on the privatization of K-12 public education at taxpayer expense by billionaire investors for the sake of poor children.

[MineralMan]

69. I doubt he was trying to impress you at all.

The looks on those kids' faces and on President Obama's face say it all.

[sulphurdunn]

81. If he wasn't trying to impress someone

then we wouldn't have seen the photos. What exactly do all the looks on those faces say to you about the power behind the education "reform" movement's media campaign, pray tell?

[lonestarnot]

91. So photos are taken to impress someone? anyone?

Strange idea.

[sulphurdunn]

99. In politics they are and they're called

photo-ops. Good lord, how could you not know that?

[lonestarnot]

102. I think you would have a difficult time proving your suggested intent. Sharing could be the intent.

Photo opportunity is in the eye of the beholder.

[JuniperLea]

77. You should check out the Scandinavian schools...

http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/08/20/progressive-swedish-charter-schools-coming-soon-to-a-city-near-you-

Seems the best educated on Earth are looking at them favorably.

[sulphurdunn]

82. I couldn't find anything about Scandinavian charter schools

on the link, but I did grow up in a Scandinavian community. Every summer the kids of relatives from the Old Country would come to visit. They all were bright and spoke better English than we spoke Norwegian or Swedish because they'd studied it since the 2nd grade. Otherwise, the were no better educated than we were, although they did tend to take their studies more seriously. Even so, Scandinavia is not America. It has a very different history and making comparisons between homogeneous social welfare states like Norway or Denmark with 5 million people each or Sweden with about 9 million to a heterogeneous, multiracial, imperial robber baron state with 320 million people like ours is an apple and oranges comparison.

[JuniperLea]

84. well its a good thing no one is making that comparison then

Eom

[Hannah Bell]

97. that's because they had their right wing "education reform" before us.

And predictably, the impact on the poor was "close to zero," & the upper middle class was the only class of kids who benefited.



The Swedish model of schools championed by Education Secretary Michael Gove has not transformed the academic achievement of the country's pupils, a report suggests today.

The biggest beneficiaries tend to be students from highly educated families, rather those from low educated backgrounds, it says.

The paper, published in the latest edition of Research in Public Policy, reviews the evidence on so-called "free schools" in Sweden.

The report highlights evidence that shows a "moderately positive" impact of free schools on academic performance when pupils are 15 and 6, but adds: "The biggest beneficiaries are children from highly educated families; the impact on low educated families and immigrants is close to zero."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/swedens-free-schools-model-has-limited-impact-2008070.html

Sweden's "free schools" = big fail, & the promoters are citing the fraudulent research on US charter schools as their model.

Bwah-ha.

Fascism is in the saddle & rides mankind.

[Starry Messenger]

74. Were they invited by lottery? n/t

[JuniperLea]

78. That's how it happened when Bill Clinton visited my daughter's school...

Jackie Robinson Academy... it's only fair, really... unless they use it as a learning opportunity and choose from students who wrote outstanding papers on why they should be allowed to attend.

[grahamhgreen]

88. Most of the kids in the film missed the lottery and were left behind...

All the privateers know how to do is gamble in rigged casinos

[Starry Messenger]

89. The lottery is theatre anyway.

Agitprop in the reform wars.

[ibegurpard]

90. Full speed ahead with school privatization

And Arne said he'll have no problem working with the Republicans
no doubt.

[slay]

93. Sickening

pretty soon we'll be down the path of Phillip K. Dick's "Total Recall" where even oxygen is private as they charge us for the air we breathe. :puke:

[chervilant]

92. Hmph.

Our nation has routinely underfunded and disrespected public education, a reality that is manifestly apparent when one considers that fully 40% of our adult population is functionally illiterate. Over the past four decades, this nation's teachers have struggled to educate our children in the face of underfunding, bad administrators, overcrowded classrooms, and disintegrating school buildings (this list could go on and on--high-fat, high-calorie food, no physical education, emphasis on varsity sports, no art, no music, etc--ad nauseum). The current relentless assault on public education, with its emphasis on 'bad teachers and 'villainous unions' as the problems du jour, is merely one aspect of the ongoing effort by the Corporate Megalomaniacs to subjugate and control the hoi polloi. "Race to the Top," my ass!

Am I glad these young people got to visit the White House? Yes, of course. Do I think Mr. Obama's policy regarding public education is truly about our children's academic success? Not so much.

BTW, a quick perusal of the posts commonly seen on DU reveals that far too many adults lack basic spelling, grammar, and comprehension skills. Perhaps we should have a care with the 'pot calling the kettle' routine...

[shireen]

94. i love how that kid in the blue shirt

makes himself at home on the couch!
:rofl:

Cute kids. :)

[zenprole]

95. Dangerous

Isn't this a lesson in bootlickitude and suckup-ness? Win a lottery and be lifted up and out, where you get to visit an important guy in his office?

You can't blame the kids 'cause they don't know better (and maybe aren't supposed to just yet). But there are far better reasons for students to experience culture and history than propping up Arne Duncan's version of mortgage fraud on the education system: "Hey, Mr. Secretary! Some of these foreclosures are illegal!"

[leveymg]

103. Nice kids. Too bad they're being used as props to destroy public sector unions and education

Same can be said for the tall, skinny guy who looks so sharp in a dark suit.

[Smarmie Doofus]

107. I really wish I didn't have to agree with that.

Sounds so.... cut and dried. And the kids are so cute. But I do.

And that particular suit is looking emptier and emptier as developments unfold.

I was crossing state lines to canvass door to door in W. Philly for him this time two years ago.

What, on earth, was I thinking.